Why is the Army paying UCF even more money for PTSD?

"ONE STUDY THEY HAD 100" AND THE NEXT IT WAS "92" but the Army thinks this is worth yet another $10 million dollars?

UCF RESTORES started in 2011 with $5 million from the Department of Defense, enough to operate for five years. Since then, the clinic has treated Pulse survivors, nearly 300 veterans and first responders from 20 states.

A little over a year ago the program’s funds got so low that it was in danger of closing. But then it received $3 million in federal funds last year, along with $2.5 million from the state's budget after local lawmakers pushed for the funding. It’ll also receive part of a $6.6 million donation earlier this year from UCF alum Jim Rosengren.

“Most of our work so far has been with veterans. Our goal for this project is to see if our treatment is as effective with an all-active-duty population,” said Dr. Deborah Beidel, director of RESTORES.

Read the rest here and they you'll understand why most of the time I look like this!

All that money and yet the last report out of Florida for known veteran suicides was,

Florida Veteran Suicide Data Sheet

Jan 19, 2018 - Florida Population 2018. Our current estimate for Florida's population in 2018 is 21.31 million.

(and drum roll please)

The number of Veterans in Florida isFlorida has the third largest population of veterans in the nation after California and Texas with more than 1.5 million veterans –

And who are all the new groups focusing on? It isn't the over 35 year olds WHO ARE ACTUALLY THE MAJORITY OF THE "KNOWN" SUICIDES! 

UCF Restores Gets Funding for PTSD...We Get Left Out On Our Own

PROPOSED NATIONAL DEFENSE BUDGET INCLUDES $3M FOR CENTRAL FLORIDA PTSD CLINIC
WMFE News
by Renata Sago
March 9, 2017

More than 250 service members, veterans, and first responders have been treated since the clinic opened.

The $577.9 billion national defense bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this week includes a provision for money that would go to a University of Central Florida clinic that treats veterans and first responders for post-traumatic stress disorder.

UCF RESTORES uses virtual reality as a key part of treatment. The funding for the clinic would come from a defense budget devoted to advanced concepts and simulation.

Dan Holsenbeck, Senior Vice President for University Relations for UCF, is hopeful the provision will get Senate approval and eventually a nod from the president. He knows the funding will not help the clinic run long-term.
read more here 

And yet again, this program is just for OEF and OIF veterans...not our generation!

UCF Restores

PTSD Treatment
Troop deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan has been extensive and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common among our returning veterans. PTSD is associated with poor quality of life, guilt, anger, and unemployment, among other life challenges.

The Trauma Management Therapy program, a division of UCF RESTORES, is offering a treatment program that uses the most effective treatments for combat-related PTSD.

This is a clinical research program, funded by a grant to UCF from the Department of Defense Military Operations Medical Operations Program.

Individuals who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan, who believe that they might be suffering from PTSD, and who are interested in getting more information about our Trauma Management Therapy program are encouraged to call the TMT Project Manager, Dr. Sandra Neer, at 407-823-1668.

Do they give a shit about the fact that the majority of the reported suicides by the VA are over the age of 50? Do they give a crap that age group is also among the largest percentage of veterans fighting PTSD on a daily basis with little help or attention? Do we matter at all to any of these new "efforts" following the decades of efforts we created in the first place?

UCF Operation Giveback drew huge crowds

UCF Operation Giveback drew huge crowds
by Kathie Costos
Wounded Times Blog
May 11, 2013



This morning I was out at University of Central Florida for the Operation Giveback Run for wounded warriors. It was a fabulous turn out.

As you can see in some of these pictures a lot of companies sponsored the event.



I met the founder of My Warrior's Place Kelly Kowall. Her son Corey was killed in Afghanistan.

A Mom's mission to help vets and soldiers grieve Kelly Kowall needed a sign. She didn't want a nebulous sign subject to the interpretation of the moment. She needed something serious, something strong. Kelly stood on a beach and asked God for a “burning bush” sign. Then a large caliber bullet washed up at her feet.

She is featured in this video report.

'Horses And Heroes' Offers Veterans New Approach To Therapy

'Horses And Heroes' Offers Veterans New Approach To Therapy
Local Equine Therapy Program Works To Expand
Matt Lupoli, WESH.com
May 4, 2012

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Eight U.S. military veterans in Central Florida have taken a unique approach to therapy. They're riding horses. Over the past eight weeks, eight veterans of various ages who sustained physical injuries or post traumatic stress disorder in Iraq, Afghanistan or Vietnam meet once each week for a three-hour therapy session, thanks to the University of Central Florida, Heavenly Hoofs Therapeutic Riding Center, and S.A.D.L.E.S. Equine Therapy of Umatilla.

"This is definitely a positive, therapeutic thing for veterans and people such as myself," Navy veteran Cliff Burton said. "My comfort level has definitely changed. I can do a whole bunch of stuff. I feel good."

Dr. Manette Monroe, a UCF assistant dean and professor, hopes the schools College of Medicine can develop research that will create best practices for this relatively new form of therapy.
read more here

UCF Suicide-PTSD program off to a bad start

If this is the "research" they are basing this program on, they are off to a bad start.

"Research shows as many as 18 percent of those who have been exposed to military combat struggle with PTSD."

The latest news is 30% of Marines, 40% of Soldiers and 50% of National Guards and Reservists. What "research" are they talking about and how old is it? Vietnam veterans came in at 30% with one deployment. The Army stated that repeat deployments increased the risk by 50% and most have been on multiple tours.

Vets with PTSD invited to free UCF clinical program
February 13, 2012 12:05 AM Posted in: East Volusia
Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans who are living in Volusia and Flagler counties and may be struggling with post traumatic stress disorder are invited to a meeting next Monday about a free, new therapy being conducted by the University of Central Florida.

Project SPEAK, a suicide prevention program at UCF Daytona and Daytona State College, will host the meeting in collaboration with the Trauma Management Therapy Project at UCF. It will be at noon in the Daytona State/UCF Joint Use Facility (Building 140), Room 115, on Daytona State's campus at 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach.

The Trauma Management Therapy project is a clinical research program for military personnel returning from the wars overseas with PTSD. The program, funded by the U.S. Department of Defense, combines virtual reality exposure therapy with group treatment. It is available to all military personnel who were deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan.
read more here

Great story and will make you stop to think of what you can do too!

Med student, mom spark shoe drive for homeless vets

By Luis Zaragoza, Orlando Sentinel

6:36 p.m. EDT, October 13, 2010

Moments after meeting a homeless veteran in desperate need of shoes, UCF medical student Reid Green knew what he had to do.

The 22-year-old Venice, Fl., native yanked the Nikes off his feet and handed them over to the stunned ex-military man.

"Are you sure? Are you sure?" the man kept saying.

Green had no doubts.

"He wanted shoes but there were none for him," said Green, who was volunteering at a recent Veterans Affairs-sponsored food and clothing giveaway in Orlando when he noticed the man's plight.

Green's motivation: "He needed them more."

It wasn't a big deal to him, Green said, but he was touched by the man's gratitude.

For the next several hours, Green padded around in his socks, never mind the damp ground.

Green later phoned his mother, Randi, to tell her about his encounter with the veteran.

"Mom, something almost broke my heart today," he told her.
click link above to read more

Crash victim's family and friends clean road as memorial to life lived

Wellington crash victim's friends to clean up roadside near site of collision with polo mogul

By Jason Schultz, The Palm Beach Post

9:46 a.m. EDT, July 22, 2010


Friends of Scott Patrick Wilson will come from far away this weekend to the site where his car was hurled into a canal following a violent collision with a Bentley driven by polo mogul John Goodman.

At least 50 people are expected to show up at 9 a.m. Saturday to clean trash from the stretch of Lake Worth Road at 120th Avenue where Wilson drowned after the Feb. 12 crash.

"It's a way of remembering Scott in a positive way," said Lili Wilson, his mother.

Wilson's father, William, said friends of Wilson's are coming from as far away as New York City and Washington, D.C., to participate.
go here for more
Wellington crash victim

Troops give new meaning to distance learning with UCF

Troops give new meaning to distance learning
Darryl E. Owens Sentinel Staff Writer
March 31, 2009
The day starts before 8a.m. for Jonathan Richman, a religious-program specialist 2nd class with the U.S. Navy, based at Joint Task Force-Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

After a day spent boosting troop morale and interacting with detainees, the petty officer 2nd class typically clocks out at 5p.m. He plays some racquetball, tends to his room and laundry, then pulls up a seat and dives into deep discussions with his legal-studies classmates at the University of Central Florida.

The Orlando campus might be miles from the military base, but online-degree programs are growing in appeal for veterans who've suffered grievous injuries and service members such as Richman whose worldwide deployments underscore the term "distance" learning.

"The biggest advantage of online education is the ability to 'attend' class when it is convenient for me," said the 25-year-old from Orlando. "If I feel like it, I can sign on in the middle of the night and do some homework, take a quiz or ask a question via e-mail or the bulletin board."
go here for more
Troops give new meaning to distance learning

Former President Clinton touts Obama in front of thousands at UCF

Former President Clinton touts Obama in front of thousands at UCF
Jim Stratton Sentinel Staff Writer
1:22 PM EDT, October 1, 2008
ORLANDO - Campaigning in Florida Wednesday, President Bill Clinton told supporters that Barack Obama has the right philosophy, better answers and betters advisers than John McCain.Clinton, speaking to several thousand people at the University of Central Florida, said the country "is a mess" thanks largely to policy decisions made by President George Bush. He told supporters that "it didn't have to be this way" and that Obama and his running mate Joe Biden know that the next administration must "grow the economy from the ground up."

Deputy hit by truck before UCF game is critically hurt

Deputy hit by truck before UCF game is critically hurt
Jeanette Rivera-Lyles Sentinel Staff Writer
September 7, 2008
An off-duty Orange County deputy sheriff was in critical condition Saturday night at Orlando Regional Medical Center after being hit by a truck before a football game at the University of Central Florida, authorities said.
go here for more
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-b3court07_408sep07,0,4984386.story