MOUNT VERNON — Point Man Ministries is organizing a local chapter for Knox and the surrounding counties of Morrow and Coshocton to help veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Veterans of the Army Reserve and the National Guard are seeing PTSD rates as high as 40 percent, said Larry Waltman, spokesman for the newly organized chapter. Typical symptoms for PTSD include anger, insecurity, alcohol or drug abuse, or an inability to adapt with job or family. Because the reserve and guard members return to a civilian life, isolated from other veterans with similar experiences, they are more prone to PTSD symptoms, said Waltman.
He said the highest rates are in returning Army reserve and Army guard combat service support units such as transportation, supply, aviation, medical and military police, among others.
Waltman had no available figures on the number of returning service men and women from Knox County and the surrounding area who have seen active duty in a conflict zone, but noted that “we can only assume [the support groups] are positive” because returning veterans continue to attend meetings. However, some returning veterans, he said, attend only one or two local meetings, then find a person in which they can confide or relate to, and continue to work one on one rather than take part in the support group’s larger meetings.
“The bottom line is that there [are] more [veterans] than we ever expected that are beginning to show symptoms of PTSD,” said Waltman.
Unfortunately, he said, because of Knox County’s rather rural location, the closest Veteran’s Administration clinic is in Columbus, and the closest military hospital is in Dayton. Adding to this problem, he added, is the fact that military health care benefits for the Army Reserve and National Guard expire six months after demobilization, which is often when the first symptoms of PTSD appear.
“Talking to other veterans has been shown to be just as effective as the Veterans Administration and military health facilities, when it comes to PTSD,” said Waltman.
Point Man Ministries is a faith-based program that uses focus groups of veterans to help other veterans suffering from PTSD. The group’s motto is “Vets serving vets.”
Waltman urges returning service men and women to contact him if they feel they might be experiencing symptoms of PTSD, or if a family member or loved one begins to exhibit any symptoms of PTSD. Waltman can be reached at 398-3940.
