Las Vegas mental health Crisis Response Team sees success with new strategy
KTNV By: Joe Bartels Dec 08, 2018
"We are outperforming expectations by some distance, and I think we are showing a good cost-savings to the state and we're going great care for patients," said Asst. Fire Chief Jon Stevenson with Las Vegas Fire and Rescue.
LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — There is a small crisis response team that is making a big impact when it comes to the emerging mental health crisis across Las Vegas.
"It can be tense," said Amanda Jurden, a licensed clinical social worker.
"Usually, we just try and talk to the person, kind of gauge where they're at, find out, number 1, are they open to talking to you, are they going to be voluntary patient?" explained Jurden.
Jurden is now on the front lines of the Crisis Response Team and rides aboard an ambulance to make an on-scene patient assessment during a mental health crisis incident.
"They can be angry, they can be agitated, they can be under the influence, all of those things," said Jurden.
"But at the end of the day we just want to see if they are willing to engage with us, and cooperate in some form or fashion," said Jurden.
The Crisis Response Team was organized in April 2018 with the goal of connecting those in mental distress with available resources while reducing the burden on local emergency rooms. read more here
Indiana veterans affairs leader resigns after awarding grants for needy vets to employees
Indianapolis Star Tony Cook December 7, 2018
Most veterans also were strictly held to a $2,500 lifetime cap on aid, but at least four of Brown's employees who are veterans received more than that, including the manager of the program, who dipped into the fund multiple times.
Indiana Department of Veterans' Affairs Director James Brown
(Photo: Indiana Department of Veterans' Affairs)
The leader of Indiana's veterans affairs agency is resigning after awarding grant money intended for struggling veterans to his own employees.
Gov. Eric Holcomb accepted the resignation of Indiana Department of Veterans' Affairs Director James Brown on Friday morning, according to a media release. Brown, a decorated Vietnam veteran, has led the agency since 2013.
"Sgt. Maj. Brown is a good man with a distinguished service record,” Holcomb said. “I am grateful for his longstanding service to our state and country.”
The shakeup comes one week after an ongoing IndyStar investigation found Brown gave middle-income state employees who were veterans an inside track on emergency assistance grants intended for needy vets.
IndyStar reported last week that at least 11 of the agency's employees — many making $40,000 to $50,000 a year — received a total of roughly $40,000 or more through the Military Family Relief Fund. read more here
Combat PTSD Wounded Times Kathie Costos December 8, 2018
If you can forgive others, as a human, maybe it is time to think of God's capacity to forgive you. This morning I was reading something on Camp Lejeune The Globe "Restored to fellowship with God through grace, love" by Lt. Matt Schilling Combat Logistics Battalion 26.
What is the worst thing you have ever done? Have you experienced God’s forgiveness? Or, in contrast, do you fear that God will not forgive you? I invite you to consider the example of Peter. You may remember that though he was one of the twelve disciples, he denied Jesus three times, even invoking a curse on himself and swearing that he did not know Jesus. And yet Jesus forgave him. In John 21:15-19, we read the remarkable account of how God’s great mercy was shown to Peter.
First, Jesus asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?” In doing so, he graciously gave Peter the opportunity to publicly reaffirm his love for Christ, demonstrating his grief and repentance over his sin. The story reveals that though Peter sinned greatly, he was restored to fellowship with Jesus.
Jesus also gave Peter a very important task, “Tend my sheep.” Yes, Jesus entrusted the care of his followers to Peter despite his earlier failure, so great and complete is the forgiveness he bestows.
Lt. Schilling goes on to write about being forgiven for our sins. But most wonder if they can be forgiven for other things, that are not sins. Can you be forgiven for being a simple human?
Many times we do things, doing the best we can at the time, with the best intensions, only to have things turn out terribly wrong. Afterwards, we run all kinds of alternative scenarios, trying to figure out what we should have done. All fine and good when it is a thought but the brutal reality is, as a human, what we think we had the power to do, would have been physically impossible. By the grace of God we find it easier to forgive others for what they do, or do not do. By the will of our own minds, we put up a barrier to forgiving ourselves. If you feel you are unworthy of being forgiven, please read about the Roman Centurion who humbled himself in front of his men asking Jesus to heal his servant. Read about how Jesus faced someone over and over again, thinking they too were unworthy of being forgiven, but He showed them love and compassion. Understand that what is in your core, compassion, courage and a will to serve others, is not evil. It is a gift that comes with a heavy price because the more you care about others, the more you will grieve. It is also what gives you the power to feel joy more than others. Know what causes you emotional pain is not because of weakness, but because of the strength of your soul. Rely on that strength, seek healing, forgive yourself and #TakeBackYourLife from PTSD. Here are a couple of videos to explain more.
There is suddenly a lot of talk about "moral injury" and combat PTSD. It is survivor's guilt adding to what is known as PTSD but unlike other causes of PTSD, this one is harder to heal from. The good news is, you were not judged by God but He has put what you need to heal already in your soul. It is our job to connect you to it again. Contact Point Man International Ministries to show you the way.
National Guardsmen and Reservists have the same wounds as active duty troops but they come back home without the same support. They grieve just as much but for many, they are also risking their lives as police officers and firefighters.
Vietnam veterans have been healing from what their service did to them and they know what it is to grieve. Combat PTSD is different from other types. We only know about this wound of war because they fought for everything available today for all veterans. If you have PTSD understand this one message. You are not stuck the way you are and your life can get better. PTSD caused the change in you. Change again!
Rocky Mountain Telegram BY LINDELL JOHN KAY Staff Writer Friday, December 7, 2018
“If it weren’t for Sgt. Bass, I probably would have killed myself,” the veteran said, according to reports
A Nash County deputy has been recognized for his life-saving compassionate community service.
Sgt. Scott Bass was recognized as Deputy of the Year earlier this week by the Nash County Board of Commissioners. Bass has convinced suicidal gunmen to surrender without violence and appeared on national television for helping a woman find a quicker way to work than walking, often in inclement weather.
Employed with the county since 2010, Bass has served primarily in the Patrol Division and was promoted to sergeant last year.
During the short ceremony to recognize Bass, Chief Deputy Brandon Medina described him as being kind and compassionate with a very generous heart.
Bass' heroism and care for the people he serves as a deputy has been repeatedly demonstrated by his actions.
In 2017, Bass and other deputies responded to the call of a missing and possibly suicidal person.
A high-ranking member of the military, the missing man was located down a secluded path. He was armed. Bass began to reason with the man and ordered the other deputies to fall back, putting himself between a suicidal man with a gun and his fellow law enforcement officers.
Another time in 2017, Bass, while in Raleigh attending specialized training, ate lunch with a friend.
After leaving the restaurant, Bass was about to pull away in his marked patrol car when a man ran up and said a business was being robbed.
"Without hesitation, Sgt. Bass responded to the business and apprehended the suspect, holding him until proper authorities arrived," Medina said.
In February, Bass responded to a call for service where he again spoke with a military veteran who was having a hard time coping with life.
"Being a veteran himself, Sgt. Bass was empathetic and provided the necessary assistance as soon as he recognized that he was dealing with someone suffering from severe mental distress," Medina said.
David Smith riding new wave of veteran-advocates in the Florida Legislature
Orlando Rising Scott Powers 12/05/2018
Republican state Rep. David Smith will be heading to Tallahassee with a broad platform of ambitions covering education, the economy and the environment, but the retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel gets particularly excited about prospects he sees to improve the lot for Florida’s military veterans.
Smith was elected Nov. 6 to succeed Jason Brodeur in representing House District 28 in east Seminole County. Riding in with him in this class are state Reps. Anthony Sabatini of Howie-in-the-Hills, Elizabeth Fetterhoff of Deland, Tommy Gregory of Sarasota, and Spencer Roach of North Fort Myers, all military veterans, joining returning lawmakers such as Paul Renner of Palm Coast.
They have restarted a veterans’ caucus in the Florida House, Smith said.
“I think there is going to be new excitement to address issues for veterans,” Smith said. “The one thing I’m committed to is systemic solutions. I don’t want band-aid solutions or give-away programs. They don’t work and they’re insulting to veterans.”
Specifically, Smith is looking at creating a state contracting set-aside preference for veteran-owned businesses, much as currently exists for women- and minority-owned businesses. There are plenty of models out there, including a federal program, state programs in Texas, California, and North Carolina, and a patchwork of local programs.
Smith said that the University of Central Florida’s contracts for construction of its downtown campus features a 10 percent set-aside for veterans’ businesses. Smith’s willing to start much smaller at the state, perhaps 1 percent, and work toward 3 percent.
He has filed no bills yet, saying he’s taking his time. Like other state representatives, he’s also waiting for his committee assignments.
“That’s one of the things I campaigned on,” Smith. “One of the differences I have even with Gov. [Rick] Scott is I think Florida is not as veteran-friendly as it could be as relates to veterans’ businesses. I want to be an advocate for those veterans in the Legislature.” read more here
Meet the Palmetto resident who was inducted into Florida Veterans Hall of Fame
Bradenton Herald BY JAMES A. JONES JR. December 7, 2018
MANATEE Carl Hunsinger of Palmetto, chairman of the Manatee County Veterans Council, was among 20 vets inducted into the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame this week in Tallahassee.
Carl Hunsinger has been inducted into the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame. He is shown above with Lee Washington, Manatee County veterans service officer, Gov. Rick Scott, and the Florida Cabinet. Hunsinger is retired from 30 years service in the U.S. Air Force, and is a tireless advocate for the Manatee County veterans community,
provided photo
Hunsinger, 63, a retired U.S. Air Force chief master sergeant and veteran of 26 months of combat service in Iraq and Kuwait, was the only Manatee County resident among the 20 inductees honored by Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet.
“I was surprised when I got the call that I had been selected about 9 a.m. one morning around Thanksgiving,” Hunsinger said. “I said, ‘What?’ ”
In 2004, he led a team of 160 enlisted airmen providing gun truck security in Mosul, Iraq.
Hunsinger was in Mosul when one of the American dining facilities was bombed, killing 24 and wounding 70 others.
read more here
