Veterans and residents connected with health and support services during the Veterans & Community Mental Health Resource Fair held Wednesday, September 10, at the Minden Recreation Center.
The event was sponsored by Webster Parish Veterans Safety Net, Humana, and Minden Medical Center. Hilton R. Wells, co-founder of the coalition and representative of Overton Brooks VAMC-CEPC, gave the welcome. Mayor Nick Cox delivered the invocation and proclamation.
Guest speakers included Sheriff Jason Parker; Jerry Madden, coalition vice president, who shared a personal testimony; Kevin Stevenson, LCSW and retired Army colonel with Overton Brooks VAMC-SPC, who presented suicide prevention training; Trisha Brown of Minden Medical Rehabilitation; Allysan Smith of Freedom Behavioral Health; and Barbara Johnson of Meadowview Health & Rehabilitation. Coalition president Gary Seegers provided closing remarks.
Food was provided by Celeste Heisler with Humana, with Domino’s Pizza donating pizzas, Webster Men of Courage furnishing desserts, and the Webster Council on Aging donating cases of water. Resource tables were set up by organizations such as Acadiana Legal Services, Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College, VFW Post 2885, the Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Springhill Medical Center, Louisiana Home Health, and others.
Stevenson highlighted VA S.A.V.E. training, a free online or in-person course designed to help community members recognize signs of suicidal thoughts in veterans and take action. The program teaches participants to know the Signs, Ask the question, Validate the veteran’s experience, and Encourage treatment while Expediting help. Since 2001, more than 140,000 veterans have died by suicide, and suicide is the second leading cause of death among veterans under the age of 45. The course can be accessed online at learn.psycharmor.org/courses/va-save or scheduled in person through VeteransCrisisLine.net/LocalResources.
The fair coincided with Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and included a community donation drive to benefit the local homeless population. Requested items included travel-size toiletries such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, and lotion.
The Webster Parish Veterans Safety Net also invites veterans to attend Coffee with Vets, held the first Saturday of each month at 9:30 AM at Huffman Manor, 1114 Broadway Street in Minden.
