TULSA, Okla. — During PTSD Awareness Month, local advocates are working to break the stigma surrounding post-traumatic stress and shine a light on how mental health struggles can impact housing stability for veterans.
Sean Lord, the co-founder of Heroes Hope, said post-traumatic stress is often a major factor for the veterans his organization serves.
“I think there is a stigma,” Lord stated. “It’s like this baby everybody wants to put in the corner and it’s such a big red flag issue that so many people feel like they can’t help with that.”
Heroes Hope is a Tulsa-based nonprofit that provides transitional housing and support services to veterans experiencing crisis.
Lord said local providers have identified more than 200 veterans in the Tulsa area who are currently experiencing homelessness.
On a national level, more than 32,000 veterans were unhoused during the most recent annual count.
While every veteran’s story is different, Lord said many spend years trying to manage their struggles on their own.
“There’s so many veterans out there. They’ve been struggling with this for years and just telling themselves, ‘hey, I just got to wake up tomorrow and I’ll be fine’ or ‘I just have to do this one thing and eventually I’ll get through this.’ 10, 15 years later, the struggle is even worse.”
That’s where Heroes Hope steps in.
The nonprofit offers veterans more than just a referral or a phone number. Staff members help connect veterans with housing, navigate paperwork, access rehabilitation programs and mental health resources, along with providing mentorship from people who understand the challenges many veterans face.
According to Heroes Hope, the organization currently operates three transitional homes with 27 beds for veterans in crisis.
Lord said the need in Tulsa continues to outpace available resources.
Despite the challenges, Lord said supporting someone with PTSD doesn’t require having all the answers.
“I think every single person in the world has the ability to help anybody battling through post-traumatic stress or any other mental health issue. Everybody needs a friend. None of us were created to do life alone.”
He encouraged people to reach out to the veterans and loved ones in their lives.
“Sometimes the best medicine for somebody struggling with post-traumatic stress or any of these other issues is just a friend. You don’t have to have the answers and the tools to fix it, but you do have the ability to just be there for someone and let them know they’re not alone.”
Advocates said changing the stigma around PTSD can start with a simple conversation at home.
For veterans in need, organizations like Heroes Hope provide resources and people ready to walk alongside them every step of the way.
Veterans or family members seeking help through Heroes Hope can learn more at Heroes Hope’s official website here.