LAWTON, Okla. (KSWO) – The Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs is working to break down mental health misconceptions through peer support programs that connect veterans with others who share similar experiences.
Alfonso Garza, the ODVA Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Program administrator, said peer support offers unique benefits for veterans struggling with mental health issues.
“When it comes to mental health struggles, peer support is super great because the veterans are able to connect with another person that gets it,” Garza said. “Or the veteran feels like, ‘Hey, I’m talking to somebody that gets it. They understand what I’m going through and they’re not the only one.’ And it’s a big stigma of actually having a conversation of what we’re going through.”
Comprehensive partnerships
The ODVA Mental Health Program emphasizes the benefits of peer support within the veteran community as part of its comprehensive approach to mental health care. The department partners with multiple state and federal organizations to provide comprehensive mental health support for veterans.
“So the way we partner is we partner with state, federal agencies to include nonprofits and private organizations,” Garza said. “And what we try to do is we try to connect with these agencies, like for example, the Federal VA. As far as state agencies, Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, we try to connect with the Department of Health and believe it or not with the Army National Guard Resiliency Program as well.”
Garza said the goal is to make veterans aware of different resources available throughout their local communities.
More information about ODVA programs is available at oklahoma.gov/veterans.
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