Non-Profit Blazing a Trail for Mental and Behavioral Healthcare for Vets
Veteran Health Services is going full throttle with its efforts for American veterans and their families.
Baltimore, MD, October 20, 2016 (Newswire.com) - Veteran Health Services, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit company, is joining forces with Thunder Road Mid-Atlantic and the Captain John Obder Chapter of the WarFighters Motorcycle Club for its inaugural Give 5 Drive Ride on Saturday, Nov. 5, the week before the national observation of Veterans Day.
“We intend for this to be an annual event,” said Veteran Health Services president, CEO, and founder Stephen B. Goldberg, MD. “Every year, the Saturday before Veterans Day, we’re going to hit the road to raise awareness for the mental and behavioral health issues that America’s heroes are facing, and we’ll continue to do so until those struggles are behind us.”
We're riding to spread the real message of Veteran Health Services, and that is 'We are not the VA. We are not the government. The reason we are asking for the nation's support is so that we can do something different and achieve different results'.
Dr. Stephen Goldberg, Founder/President, Veteran Health Services, Inc.
The ride will embark from the WarFighters headquarters, 154 Lafayette Ave., in Laurel, and will travel more than 20 miles to The Baltimore War Memorial, while stopping by the Baltimore Veterans Affairs Hospital along the way.
The Give 5 Drive Ride is an outreach of Veteran Health Services’ nationwide “Give 5 Drive.” The social media and crowdfunding initiative seeks to elicit donations of $5 from millions of supporters, with the assurance that 100 percent of all proceeds will be used to fund its development, launch, and clinical operations, while laying the foundation for future Veteran Health Services locations, and that its executives will never receive performance bonuses.
Suicide rates for veterans have climbed to record highs in recent years. More than 1.8 million veterans are suffering from substance abuse; 300,000 who served in Iraq and Afghanistan are enduring post-traumatic stress disorder or major depression; and an average of 20 commit suicide every day.
Veteran Health Services, Inc. aims to eliminate these statistics, by offering mental and behavioral health, substance abuse, and trauma-related care to veterans and their families, no matter what their level of service connection may be, or whether a third party determines if their struggles are ‘medically necessary. According to Dr. Goldberg, care will be provided by clinicians with at least 80 hours of specialized training in military culture and veteran issues, in addition to their base licensing credentials.
“We’re riding to spread the real message of Veteran Health Services, and that is ‘We are not the VA. We are not the government. The reason we are asking for the nation’s support is so that we can do something different and achieve different results.’”
Registration for the ride begins at 10 a.m. at the Warfighters HQ, with kickstands up at noon. Throughout the day, the WarFighters will host gourmet food trucks, activities, music, and more. The Give 5 Drive Ride is a rain or shine event, and cages (cars, for the layperson) are more than welcome.
“We’re hoping for as many riders as possible,” stressed Dr. Goldberg. “If you’re a biker, come out and ride. If you know a biker, come out and ride. If you care about the men and women who sacrificed so much to serve our country – please come out and support this unique event. Our sincere hope is that this event spreads nationwide, and becomes synonymous with Veterans Day, and with making a difference in the lives of our American heroes.”
For more information, visit veteranhealthservices.org/events.
Source: Veteran Health Services, Inc.