THE HEADSTRONG PROJECT INC

Correcting larger veteran issues
Local and Federal governments have been trying to reduce major veteran issues for many years such as unemployment, domestic violence, substance abuse, and homelessness. Mental health is a pre-requisite for all of these large societal issues. By helping veterans feel better, and regain their emotional well-being and self- esteem, they are in a much better position to pursue their career goals.
Headstrong Project has the correct people on board, clinical product, and processes to see the successes continue across the country. For more information, please go to www.getHeadstrong.org.

Operations
Mental health is a highly stigmatized arena in this country. This stigmatized feeling is exponentially higher in the veteran community because in a combat zone, service members must “tough it out" and this is what they were trained to do. Many veterans have learned that one doesn't discuss symptoms of PTSD, that physical injuries you can see are more “real". They fear being labeled crazy, or that having a diagnosis of PTSD will impact on employment opportunities. Warrior culture can prevent veterans from wanting to talk about their experiences; many fear overwhelming and upsetting themselves and others. Often veterans find it difficult to mourn fallen brothers and sisters, and they may expend much of their energy keeping thoughts and feeling at the perimeter of their consciousness. Many veterans self-medicate with alcohol and other drugs, resulting in such consequences as loss of employment, loss of relationships and sometimes their life.
Headstrong Project recognizes that there are evidence-based, effective mental health treatments and protocols that can immediately impact returning combat veterans for the better. The first challenge is reaching those veterans, engaging them, and retaining them in care. Our first goal is to enhance the mental health of wounded service members, and to help them foster healthy readjustment to civilian life. By reducing PTSD and emotional symptoms and increasing mental wellness, we are helping veterans regain part of themselves that they feared they'd left on the battlefield.
When a veteran calls our program, or submits their contact information on the website, we respond personally within 48 hours. This means calling the veteran, and/or emailing them, and engaging them in a conversation that serves to explain that we understand what they are going through, and that we can help.
The intake call is the first point of human contact. It is followed by an in person psychiatric assessment, and the development of a tailored treatment plan. The tailored treatment plan will first evaluate whether this veteran is “high" or “low" functioning. High functioning veterans are typically those that have a job or going to school, have meaningful relationships, and are not using drugs and/or alcohol to an abusive point. Low functioning veterans are those that are using drugs and/or alcohol at dangerous levels and are unable to accomplish tasks that would deem them productive citizens.
We understand that substance abuse is an issue amongst veterans with PTSD because it's a quick way for veterans to reduce their symptoms. Dr. Amy Williams is an expert in treating PTSD and she has been able to bring on the most highly qualified providing partners on staff to treat the veterans. Veterans that are suffering from PTSD and other service related trauma will work with their clinician to reduce their symptoms from all the modalities mentioned previously.
We do not put a cap on the number of sessions or services we provide.

Headstrong developed a 1st of its kind, individually tailored comprehensive treatment program for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD); Addiction Treatment; Anxiety & Depression; Trauma, Grief and Loss; and Anger Management.
A team of world class clinicians, and local expert mental health care providers, have develop a fully integrated treatment model that includes case planning, management, supervision, oversight, and funding. All funds raised through annual benefit galas, Foundations, corporate sponsors, and individual contributions, helps provide competitive rates for our top clinicians nationwide. We are now is 12 states and 28 cities across the U.S.

Headstrong Project's mission is to provide cost free, stigma free, and bureaucracy free mental healthcare to military members, veterans, and their families regardless of service era or discharge.
The numbers are staggering. Over 300,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans report symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The VA estimates we lose 22 veterans a day to suicide and the Department of Defense reports 30-50 active duty troops take their lives every month. For every service member we have lost in combat, 25-30 take their own lives. These numbers also do not reflect increases in dangerous and destructive behaviors among veterans - such as domestic abuse and substance abuse.
Headstrong is currently treating veterans in New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, Houston Texas, Illinois, Southern CA, Arizona, Colorado, Washington, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Virginia with plans to expand nationally by 2025. The goal is to be able to provide the very best mental health care to all combat veterans across the US.