Allsup Sponsors Conference For Military Families & Free Veteran’s Day Screening Of “Thank You for Your Service”
Joins with the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Southwest Illinois, and other organizations to support “No Family Left Behind”
Belleville, Ill. — Sept. 28, 2016 — Allsup, a nationwide provider of veteran’s disability appeals representation, invites the public to a free screening of the award-winning documentary, Thank You For Your Service, on Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Faith Family Church, in Shiloh, Illinois.
Hosted by Operation Honor, the movie screening and panel discussion kick off the No Family Left Behind Behavioral Health Conference and Connection Fair, Nov. 11-12.
“Nearly 25% of suicides in Illinois and Missouri involve a veteran,” said Brian Russell, conference director and Iraq and Afghanistan veteran. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, three primary mental health concerns for veterans are post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and traumatic brain injury.
“The need for an event like No Family Left Behind can’t be overstated,” said Russell. “As a community, we’ve got to show up, listen, and show our veterans they have not been forgotten.”
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), PTSD is the third most common service-connected disability among current VA disability recipients.
“PTSD can cause problems with trust, closeness and communication,” said Allsup Veterans Disability Appeal Service® and VA-accredited Claims Agent Brett Buchanan. “Survivors may feel angry, detached, or worried in their relationships, and this can put enormous stress on families.”
Buchanan added that veterans often have medically complex issues. In addition to PTSD and other psychiatric conditions, they may have orthopedic conditions, cancers, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
“There has been a 200% increase over the last 10 years in original VA disability claims that contain eight or more medical issues,” said Buchanan. “These are not easy issues being decided. There are special laws and regulations for Gulf War illness, combat veterans, PTSD claims and total disability due to individual unemployability.”
No Family Left Behind is designed to help veterans and military families connect with resources to address these and other issues and improve their quality of life. The Connection Fair features local and national organizations that provide products and services to veterans and their families, including employment, mental health services, VA disability appeals, financial planning and more.
The keynote speaker is Dr. Mark Russell, founding director of the Institute for War Injuries and Social Justice of Antioch University, featured in Thank You for Your Service.
Conference registration is $10. To register, visit the website at OperationHonor.net or call (618) 277-0232. Scholarships are available. Continuing education units are available for professional counselors and social workers.
Coordinate interviews with Dr. Russell, Brett Buchanan and Brian Russell by emailing Tai Prohaska at t.prohaska@allsup.com.
For more information, visit our veterans disability appeals web page.