Danielle Wright-Terrell, MD, FACOG, ABLM’s Post

Important series of discussions on #maternalhealth coming up...

70% of US Veterans live in rural areas and they have difficulty accessing mental health and medical care. Without access to healthcare, their chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, COPD, obesity, substance abuse, depression, PTSD and chronic pain stay unchecked. The Department of VA is making strides in improving access to mental health and medical care by eliminating co-pays for telehealth visits! This is a huge step in getting them the much needed healthcare. https://lnkd.in/ehuaif2H #TOTALCARE telehealth has been improving access to healthcare for rural population since 2019. Imagine placing our Made-in-Maryland Telehealth Stations at #VFW, #AmericanLegion, Community centers and other places accessible to Veterans. Now they can get ready access to mental health and medical care, connecting to local healthcare providers! Giving needed care to the ones who risked their lives to protect us and our freedoms! We are ready and present to help our #Veterans with access to healthcare. Michelle Lang Jessica Kavanagh U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families Gov. Wes Moore Florida Health Care Association Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) VFW Foundation The American Legion Maryland Rural Health Association Operation Honor: Rural Salute™️

A new study reveals alarming health disparities among lesbian, gay, and bisexual veterans, showing they face significantly higher odds of developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) compared to their heterosexual peers. “With increasing visibility and acceptance of the sexual minority population, and with projections indicating there will be upward of 7 million lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults older than 50 years by 2030, assessing and addressing the cardiovascular health of LGB older adults remains a critical priority for LGB patients as well as clinicians, researchers, and public health officials.” At Modern Military, we support all veterans by amplifying their needs and pushing for equitable, affirmative healthcare solutions. Let’s ensure that no veteran is left behind in their pursuit of health and well-being. Learn more about this critical study here: https://loom.ly/AbkeLAw. #LGBTQHealth #VeteransHealth #HealthEquity #Cardiology #AdvocacyForAll

🔈 How can we centre lived experience voices in military Veteran health research? At Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA)’s Public Health 2024 conference, the JMVFH team is currently attending a session on incorporating lived expertise as a knowledge translation strategy within health equity work. Within the field of military Veteran health research, this may take the form of centring the voices of those with lived experience. 👇 This JMVFH introduction by Lt.-Gen. (retd) Roméo Dallaire highlights the importance of prioritizing lived expertise: “It has been over 20 years since I went public with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It had been a time of shame and taboo around such issues, and I knew that a senior serving officer coming forward could make a big difference both in policy and in the minds of individual soldiers suffering in silence. ❤️🩹 “Since that time, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), as well as society in general, has embraced those injured with PTSD and many forms of mental injury as all part of overall health. The taboos are definitely lifting, but – especially in the military – they still exist.” 📢 Read the full article on the JMVFH website for FREE: https://bit.ly/3PNRzaG 📚 “Loving a broken soul”: Laryssa Lamrock’s article provides a military spouse’s perspective on the implications of Veterans’ moral injuries for families: https://bit.ly/3U2ND8s #research #scientificresearch #military #veteran #militaryfamilies #militaryfamily #familyhealth #healthcare #mentalhealth #militarylife #militarymedicine CIMVHR - Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research

Did you know California is home to nearly 1.3 million #veterans? But only half receive #VA benefits? We launched our #VeteransHealth Campaign last year with the support of nurse researcher, educator and advocate Dr. Ali R. Tayyeb. Today, we doubled-down on our dedication by accepting a 2025 Advocacy Institute Fellow to develop recommendations for hospitals and health systems. This important step will highlight improvements to the intake process within these health institutions to assess better: 1. How many veterans use services from hospitals and health systems 2. And what do these institutions do (or don't do) with the data Want to know what questions you can start asking now? Check out the Have You Served Campaign's pocketcard: https://lnkd.in/gApFMpMv For more resources like this, check out Veteran's Health Toolbox for Nurses here: https://lnkd.in/g7K6jMwd They selflessly served our country. Now it's time to return the favor.

After Air Force veteran Maria Luque turned to the VA to help with her menopause symptoms, she was taken by surprise by the unexpected symptoms she experienced. Many women veterans say they have felt dismissed by doctors when discussing menopause, which has been shown to raise the risk for depression in women twofold, with as many as 20% of women reporting symptoms of depression. This period of transition corresponds to the highest rates of suicide among U.S. women. Given the complex mental health histories and risk factors among women veterans, DAV is particularly concerned about the suicide risk of women veterans in menopause. In February 2024, DAV published “Women Veterans: The Journey to Mental Wellness”. This report is a comprehensive assessment of the unique factors contributing to the staggering rates of suicide among women veterans and how the system charged with their mental health care can and must do better. Read Maria’s full story and learn more about the report and DAV’s findings at womenveterans.org.

There is an incentive—#country #competitiveness—to prioritize generational health. “A 2022 Pentagon study found 77% of Americans ages 17 to 24 are unfit for military service, primarily due to obesity, physical/mental health disability, and substance abuse disorder often due to coexisting conditions, and diseases of despair...” Learn more in our Forbes article: https://lnkd.in/eSNb6u6W

DAV (Disabled American Veterans) testified before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee this week, on ensuring equitability for women veterans in the VA system. Testimony is summarized below. Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) and Wounded Warrior Project also testified. The American Legion did not testify. _____ “About two years ago, DAV began work to review all available medical research literature concerning mental health among the women veterans’ population, particularly focused on gaps in care and solutions to prevent #suicide. As [they] conducted an exhaustive review of the most recent and available VA research on women veteran’s mental health care, the most consistent finding, regardless of the issue, was that there simply is not sufficient research or data specifically focused on women veterans. DAV RECOMMENDS: 🏥 VA develop targeted solutions to bridge gaps for the provision of mental health care services in rural communities—especially for women veterans who require specialized, evidence-based treatments for MST-related #PTSD, depression, and other mental health issues linked with higher suicide rates. 🏥 MST be a central pillar of suicide prevention efforts in VHA, given the exceedingly high prevalence of MST-related trauma among VHA patients. 🏥 DHHS create a three-digit number, similar to the “988” (with a veteran option) for the National Domestic Violence Hotline. 🏥 VHA revise its REACH VET model to incorporate all risk factors that significantly impact women, such as #MST and intimate partner violence 🏥 VA should assess the need to add additional domiciliary beds and gender-specific programming in residential rehabilitation programs to improve access and better serve #womenveterans 🏥 Congress provide additional funding to expand women-centered PACT programming to meet the needs of veterans with comorbid substance use disorder and chronic pain. 🏥 VA continue to conduct women veteran-focused research on the association between multiple forms of trauma and eating disorders in order to develop more effective interventions, treatments, and therapies. 🏥 VA develop an awareness campaign to educate and engage VA community care network providers in employing principles of universal precautions in trauma informed care. 🏥 VHA ensure maternity care coordinators have adequate allocated time to track and manage veterans with complex health histories, especially those utilizing community care services. 🏥 full list of recommendations and testimony in comments #veteransaffairs #veteransstrengtheningamerica #dav Abigail Courtney

Joint statement The yard coventry glamourous group and Unity in Cov Today, we are deeply troubled by the UK Health Secretary’s decision to indefinitely ban hormone blockers for trans youth. This decision disregards extensive evidence from global medical organizations that affirm the importance of gender-affirming care, including hormone blockers, in supporting the mental health and well-being of trans young people. Denying access to this vital care not only places trans youth at risk but sends a harmful message that their needs, experiences, and identities are not valid. We cannot stand by as young people are deprived of the resources that allow them to live authentically and safely. We want to reaffirm our unwavering solidarity with the trans and non-binary community, especially young people who may be feeling vulnerable and scared in the wake of this decision. We will continue to advocate for policies grounded in compassion, science, and human rights, and we call on the government to reconsider this harmful and regressive action. To trans youth: You are valid. You are loved. You deserve access to the care and support you need to thrive. We see you, we stand with you, and we will fight for you. Martin Parsonage Lewis Mason Unity in Cov

Disability is a predictor of early mortality after TBI as reported by I-HEAL investigators. We need licensed providers who work with TBI to participate in focus groups that improve engagement and quality of care for persons with TBI-related disability. Lend your professional expertise on diagnosing and treating traumatic brain injuries. The I-HEAL team seeks licensed health care providers who determine the presence and treatment of a TBI for 20% of your clinical practice to participate in an online, 60-minute focus group. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/e3GWUMvW Risa Nakase-Richardson Marc A. Silva, Ph.D. #traumaticbraininjury #communityengagedresearch #research #AccessToCare #Veterans #ServiceMembers