Military Health System Already Upgrading New Web Site ; Operation Stand Down

The Military Health System is planning an update late this month to its behavioral-health Web site, AfterDeployment.org., which was launched in early August. The site provides service members, their families, and veterans with online behavioral mental health tools.

The Web site is a self-care solution targeting post-deployment adjustment concerns for those who might not otherwise seek out services and who want to use the site’s resources at their own pace.

Since October 2001, more than 1.5 million American troops have deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, most of them between the ages of 17 to 29 with at least a high school education.

With that in mind and knowing that this user population is familiar with computers, the Web site creators designed it to be interactive to give users a variety of ways to access the information. Someone wanting to get a better understanding about his or her stress level or anger problem can take a quick self- assessment right on the site and get some immediate feedback concerning their scores. Users also can test their knowledge with user-friendly quizzes and participate in narrator-guided multimedia workshops tailored to address specific concerns.

The site offers 12 programs: Adjusting to War Memories, Dealing with Depression, Handling Stress, Improving Relationships, Succeeding at Work, Overcoming Anger, Sleeping Better, Controlling Alcohol and Drugs, Helping Kids Deal with Deployment, Seeking Spiritual Fitness, Living with Physical Injuries and Balancing Your Life.

One in every three homeless men in the United States was once in the armed forces and may end up living on the streets because of mental problems or alcohol addiction, according to recent statistics gathered by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Many groups across the U.S. are joining forces with sponsors and volunteers to counter the problem. Operation Stand Down Rhode Island will hold an event to aid homeless veterans this Friday through Sunday in Diamond Hill State Park, on Route 114 in Cumberland.

Homeless veterans will be given food, shelter, showers and clothing, and social, legal and medical counseling will be available. Veterans in need should call (800) 861-VETS (8387) for assistance, and transportation to the event will be provided.

Operation Stand Down Rhode Island offers permanent housing for veterans in Johnston and West Warwick. A third home, for severely disabled veterans and their families, is expected to open in October of next year.

For more information or to make a tax-deductible donation, call Operation Stand Down R.I.’s executive director, Al Signorelli, at (401) 383-4730.

Urology seminar series

The Veterans Affairs Medical Center at 830 Chalkstone Ave. in Providence will conduct a series of educational seminars on a variety of urology topics, starting Sept. 24 with a discussion of erectile dysfunction. Eileen Kirshenbaum, a certified urology registered nurse, will lead all sessions in Classroom 3, fifth- floor auditorium, from 9 to 10 a.m.

Other seminars: prostate cancer, Nov. 26; bladder cancer, Jan. 28; penile and testicular cancer, Mar. 25; incontinence and overactive bladder, May 27; and, kidney stones, July 22. Veterans and significant others are welcome. For more information or to register, call (401) 273-7100, ext. 2926.

Reunion

Coast Guard lightship veterans will gather Oct. 16-18 in Barnstable, Mass., for their annual reunion, at which they will dedicate a new Sailors Heritage Museum. For more information, e- mail Dennis Cosmo Jr. at [email protected].

– Veterans of Foreign Wars

Gatchell Post 306 and Auxiliary units meet tonight at 7 in the post home, 171 Fountain St., Pawtucket. Smithfield Memorial Post 2929 will meet Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the post home, 47 Farnum Pike, Smithfield. At 1 p.m. Saturday the Department Ladies Auxiliary will visit Zambarano Memorial Hospital, in Burrillville. Gatchell Post and Auxiliary units will conduct a poppy drive at the Stop & Shop on Industrial Highway in Pawtucket on Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday, Department members will participate in Operation Stand Down at Diamond Hill State Park, in Cumberland; call Michele at (401) 654- 4141 for more information.

– Italian American War Veterans

Cappucci-Weir Post 1 will meet tomorrow at 6 p.m. in the post home, 9 Court St., Bristol.

– Warwick Veterans Council

The council will meet at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow in VFW Post 183, 176 Washington St., Warwick.

– American Legion

Post 12 will meet at Saratoga Headquarters, 6854 Post Rd., North Kingstown, at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow. Armstrong-Gladding Post and Unit 69 will conduct a joint installation of officers on Sunday at 2 p.m., with refreshments to follow.

– Disabled American Veterans

Folcarelli Chapter 1 will meet Wednesday at 3:30 p.m., in VFW Post 2812, 1418 Plainfield Pike, Cranston.

– Marine Corps League

The Bucci-Atwood Detachment will meet Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Armed Forces Reserves Center at Fields Point, Providence. The South County Detachment will meet Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in VFW Post 916, 155 High St., Wakefield.

– Army Special Forces Association

Rhode Island Chapter 48 will meet Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., at the Corner Tavern, 20 South County Trail, North Kingstown.

– Association of the U.S. Army

The state chapter’s executive committee will meet Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Harwood Army Reserve Center, 385 Niagara St., Providence.

– Vietnam Veterans of America

Chapter 273 will meet Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in VFW Post 4651, 7 Haven Ave., Cranston.

– Seabee Veterans of America

Island X-1 Davisville will meet at the Seabee Museum, 21 Iafrate Way, North Kingstown, on Saturday at 9 a.m.

– Attleboro veterans

At 5 p.m. Saturday, Attleboro area veterans will hold their 10th POW/MIA 9/11 remembrance ceremony in the Newell Shelter at Capron Park. The public is welcome to the two-hour event.

– Retired Enlisted Association

Narragansett Bay Chapter 79 will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday in the VFW Post at 52 Underwood Lane, Middletown.

– WAVES National — Women of the Sea Services

Ocean State Unit 118 will meet at 1 p.m. Saturday in the state administration building, on Smith Street in Providence. All women veterans are eligible for membership. Call Ginny at (401) 846-6932 or Luisa at (401) 944-9215 for more information.

George W. Reilly can be reached at [email protected] or by writing to The Providence Journal, 75 Fountain St., Providence, R.I. 02902.

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