Results from the 2023 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report show that 6,392 veterans died as a result of suicide. The same report showed that veteran suicide is the second-leading cause of death for veterans under 45-years-old.
During the month of September, it’s crucial to raise awareness to end the tragedy of veteran suicide through National Suicide Awareness Month.
Veteran Non-profit and 501c3, Operation Warrior Resolution (OWR), helps veterans get the healing they need from PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Rather than following a traditional medical approach, they’re offering innovative and holistic healing options with promising results.
According to OWR’s Founder and CEO, Kendra Simpkins Walsh, who is a U.S. Army Veteran, the work they are doing with their programs is making a major difference for the veterans involved. This includes a specialized treatment that utilizes neuroplasticy to resolve trauma and optimize the brain’s functioning, called brain based healing.
“The results of our data are showing that our programs and treatments to resolve PTSD are remarkably successful,” Kendra said. “Veterans have a significant reduction in symptoms of trauma and depression, and on average, have a 80% improvement rate.”
“We serve hundreds of veterans, spouses and children every year, with our unique programs consistently standing in the top 10% of mental health programs nationwide,” she added.
U.S. Air Force veteran John Marr says that brain based healing had a major impact on him.
“After struggling with “revolving door” programs that left me with more questions than answers, I found myself in a place so dark that I couldn’t see any way out,” John said.
Marr says he survived that darkness, but guilt and depression still consumed him.
“I began searching for a new approach where I discovered OWR and brain based healing. When I learned they also provide help for my family, I knew that was the path I needed to take.”
OWR not only provides services to the family members of veterans, but also provides a holistic approach to address challenges on a physical, emotional, social, and spiritual level. In addition to brain based healing, OWR provides a wide range of services that includes equine therapy, chiropractic and chronic pain management, nutrition coaching, ice baths for inflammation, healing retreats for veterans and their spouses, and trauma-informed yoga to assist with overall health.
Kendra coined a new term for trauma-informed yoga, Combat Conscious Yoga, because she felt that veterans would be more receptive to it. Classes are focused on helping veterans resolve military-and transitioning-related challenges.
About three years ago, Navy veteran Dan Bue began attending Combat Conscious Yoga after learning about the program from a local news story that advertised free yoga for veterans and their families.
“I knew yoga was good for me and it made me feel good, so I made the decision to check it out,” he said.
After Dan attended another one of OWR’s programs, the veterans retreat in 2022, his wife Jen noticed a difference in him.
“I didn’t see any change in him until after he went to the retreat. He came home with a different attitude and perspective,” she said. “It was an opportunity for him to do something to benefit himself.”
After that retreat, Dan and Jen began volunteering at more of OWR’s retreats and events, and not long after, he was asked to teach Combat Conscious Yoga for OWR.
“It was a situation of being in the right place at the right time,” he said.
It’s been a year and a half since Dan began teaching yoga. He currently teaches three days a week for OWR and has expanded to teaching both veterans and civilians.
Dan regularly gets positive feedback from participants of his classes.
“It’s humbling,” he said. “People tell me they love the structure of it, that it’s a gentle yet powerful yoga class.”
Though he said it took a little prodding to get him to teach in the beginning, Dan is thankful that yoga has become such a big part of his life—and he enjoys the opportunity to provide this service to veterans in their healing journey.
Like Dan, John is thankful for OWR’s combination of mind, body, and spirit approaches through brain based healing and the other veterans programs.
“It provided the elements previous approaches failed to encompass for me,” he said. “Operation Warrior Resolution gave me a new lease on life, one with a bright future.”
To donate, or get involved in helping to end veteran suicide through OWR’s promising brain based healing or other programs, go www.OperationWarriorResolution.org
