In this special episode of the Visible Man podcast, VM Admin and veteran Bob Jurgensen sits down with fellow vets Roderick Castle, a crisis intervention specialist with the Veterans Outreach Center, and Matthew Murray, a veterans service officer with the Monroe County Veterans Service Agency to discuss veteran mental health, what’s being done about it, and what we can do to help.

If you’re a veteran in crisis or concerned about one, please call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and press 1

• What are we seeing and hearing from veterans regarding their mental health?
• How COVID affected veterans' mental health
• How can we help break the barriers and end the stigma regarding veterans' mental health?
• How do the various veterans' agencies work together to help veterans?
• PTSD in the military
• What’s out there to help veterans convert back to civilian life?
• Opening up the dialogue about veteran suicide
• How can civilians help veterans?

• Veterans Affairs: https://www.va.gov/
• Veterans Outreach Center: https://veteransoutreachcenter.org/
• Monroe County Veterans Service Agency: https://www.monroecounty.gov/vsa
• Subscribe to Beck’s Kid’s YouTube Account: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHKpj0_F_zTScHPAoBwNwZQ
• Support VM: https://www.patreon.com/visibleman
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255) or text “VM” to 741741
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Loss Survivors: https://afsp.org/ive-lost-someoneAFSP
• After an Attempt: https://afsp.org/after-an-attempt
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for family members and caregivers: https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Family-Members-and-Caregivers
• NAMI: https://www.nami.org/home
• Join Us: https://discord.gg/YbQDWqUC
• Visible Man: https://www.visibleman.org/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSPFY2_fDLiw0WLcxZErasg
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/visibleman.org/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/VisiblemanO
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visibleman_org/
  Catch up on past episodes here: https://visibleman.org/the-visible-man-podcast/

The gang chats with Chris Martoche who shares how his mental health struggles lead him to abuse alcohol, almost attempt suicide, and spend time in an inpatient mental health facility. This is one powerful story.

Notes:

• White people food
• Getting Admin Bob on Tinder next week
• Chris tells his story of alcoholism, a suicide attempt, going to an inpatient medical facility, and his constant battle with his mental health
• Great news about the PHP Program in Buffalo

Links

• Grants Awarded to ECMC to Expand Innovative Outpatient Behavioral Health Programs: https://www.ecmc.edu/grants-awarded-ecmc-expand-innovative-outpatient-behavioral-health-programs/
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255) or text "VM" to 741741
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Loss Survivors: https://afsp.org/ive-lost-someone
• AFSP After an Attempt: https://afsp.org/after-an-attempt
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for family members and caregivers: https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Family-Members-and-Caregivers
• NAMI: https://www.nami.org/home
• Join Us: https://discord.gg/YbQDWqUC
• VisibleMan: https://www.visibleman.org/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/visibleman.org/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/VisiblemanO
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visibleman_org/

Jeff chats with Mark Winston, the director of the US Men’s Shed Association, an international phenomenon that aims to help men and their mental health through “men’s innate need for activity.” The key to their popularity is best expressed in their motto: “Men don’t talk face to face, we talk shoulder to shoulder.

Just a quick reminder, this talk is for educational purposes only and is not to be taken as medical or professional advice. If you need medical or professional advice, please seek out the appropriate person in your local area.

Notes:

• What are Men’s Sheds?
• How Men’s Sheds help men stand shoulder to shoulder
• Starting a Men’s shed
• What do Men’s Sheds do?
• How Men’s Sheds Help
• What do the members of a men’s shed look like?
• How Mark got involved with Men’s Shed
• The Benefits of Men’s Sheds
• Men suicide - the silent killer
• Audience Q&A

Links:

• US Men’s Shed Association: https://usmenssheds.org/
  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/usmenssheds/
• Mark’s Email: mark@usmenssheds.org
• Subscribe to Beck’s Kid’s YouTube Account: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHKpj0_F_zTScHPAoBwNwZQ
• Support VM: https://www.patreon.com/visibleman
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255) or text “VM” to 741741
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Loss Survivors: https://afsp.org/ive-lost-someoneAFSP
• After an Attempt: https://afsp.org/after-an-attempt
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for family members and caregivers: https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Family-Members-and-Caregivers
• NAMI: https://www.nami.org/home
• Join Us: https://discord.gg/YbQDWqUC
• Visible Man: https://www.visibleman.org/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSPFY2_fDLiw0WLcxZErasg
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/visibleman.org/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/VisiblemanO
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visibleman_org/
• Catch up on past episodes here: https://visibleman.org/the-visible-man-podcast/