1. Student Veterans on Campus: Make the Connection PRESENTED BY: CEDERICK VICTOR, LMSW, TEAM LEADER AUSTIN WAMPLER, BA, READJUSTMENT COUNSELOR

2. Overview Today we will discuss: De-stigmatization and awareness of mental health. Veterans health (mental/physical) and their adjustment as student veterans. How faculty and staff can help support their student veterans. Resources & support services

3. Once a veteran, now a student?

4. Mental Health A mental health is a condition that impacts a person's thinking, feeling, or mood that may affect and his or her ability to relate to others and function on a daily basis. Genetics, environment, and lifestyle combine to influence whether someone develops a mental health condition.

5. Statistics  1 in 5 adults experiences a mental health condition every year.  1 in 20 lives with a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.  50% of mental health conditions begin by age 14 and 75% of mental health conditions develop by age 24. Mental Health Awareness

6. Veteran Mental Health Mental and physical health conditions seen in Veterans:  Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)  Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)  Anxiety Disorders  Depression

7. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can occur after you have been through a traumatic event including but not limited to: Combat exposure Child sexual or physical abuse Terrorist attack Sexual or physical assault Serious accidents Natural disasters

8. U.S. PTSD Facts  About 7 or 8 out of every 100 people (or 7-8% of the population) will have PTSD at some point in their lives.  About 5.2 million adults have PTSD during a given year. This is only a small portion of those who have gone through a trauma.  About 10 of every 100 (or 10%) of women develop PTSD sometime in their lives compared with about 4 of every 100 (or 4%) of men.

9. PTSD in Student Veterans In the classroom, or on campus, PTSD symptoms may be observable in some of the following ways: Re-experiencing Classroom discussions about the military and war-zone experiences may trigger distress (e.g., anger, anxiety) in student Veterans. Avoidance It's always difficult to understand the reason behind avoidance. If a student Veteran is not attending or participating in class, careful consideration should be given as to why.

10. PTSD in Student Veterans Cont. Negative Thoughts and Feelings Student Veterans may experience the concerns and worries of other students as trivial and unimportant, especially if they are struggling with feelings of guilt or shame related to the trauma. Alterations in Arousal Difficulty sitting still, scanning the environment, and startle responses may be observable in the classroom.

11. Traumatic Brain Injury What causes TBI? What are the severity levels of TBI?  Mild  Moderate  Severe

12. TBI Symptoms  Physical  Headache, feeling dizzy, being tired, trouble sleeping, vision problems  Cognitive (mental)  Memory problems, trouble focusing, poor judgment, trouble putting thoughts into words.  Emotional (feelings)  Depression, anger outburst, quick to anger, anxiety, personality changes.

13. Cognitive Difficulties How TBI and PTSD may affect academic performance: o Attention and concentration difficulty o Information processing challenges o Learning and memory deficits o Sluggish abstract reasoning o Slowed executive functions (problem solving, planning, insight/awareness, sequencing) o What are other challenges often associated with difficulty in classroom performance?

14. Adjustment Issues in the Classroom What are some of the issues seen within the classroom? o Distraction o Provocative Content o Sitting Quietly o Sleepiness o Unstructured Setting o Campus Culture/Climate o Relating to Others o Respect

15. What Can I Do to Help? Seek a better understanding of TBI and PTSD. Invite private conversations about your student Veterans needs. Listen to student Veterans talk about their experiences on campus. Be open to discussing alternative options for fulfilling the requirements of the class.

16. What Else Can I Do? Offer breaks during the class. Offer the option of standing in the back of the classroom, if appropriate, or stepping outside as needed. Encourage students verbally and ask them to actively participate. Encourage interactions with peers through discussions, group work, etc. Communicate expectations and assignments in a clear, direct manner with specific goals.

17. The Big Picture Service members and veterans transitioning from deployment to higher education bring with them a degree of maturity, experience with leadership, familiarity with diversity, and a mission-focused orientation that exceed those of nearly all of their peers. Vet Centers: A Public Service Announcement

18. Conclusion Where can I refer veterans? Veteran Resource Center Cal Poly Additional material Questions?

19. Additional Resources San Bernardino Vet Center 1325 E. Cooley Drive, Suite 101 Colton, CA 92324 (909)801-5762 Hours of Operation Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 9:30 pm Saturday 8:00 am – 4:30 pm Website www.vetcenter.va.gov The Vet Center can help! Advocacy, Clinical Work, Readjustment Counseling and Outreach Referrals: Call us or Send an encrypted email with Veteran’s Name and phone number to: VHALOMSBVC@VA.GOV