Spouses and Caregivers of Veterans Access Virtual Support Groups

New York, NY, December 22, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Over the next few weeks thousands of returning troops will be reunited with their families and loved ones. The VA estimates that as many as two thirds of these individuals will suffer from some sort of mental health problem like depression, substance abuse or PTSD. For these individuals, those closest to them, spouses or immediate family members, may step into an unexpected role: that of caregiver.

Providing emotional support to a returned veteran is every bit as important as providing physical care for those who return with physical injuries. Individuals providing this support, however, need support themselves, and often need a place to turn where they can find that support along with an opportunity to share and to find valuable resources.

Caregiver Village is a new virtual community that has emerged in recent months as a place for spouses of veterans to connect with others who share similar challenges, all from the comfort and privacy of their own homes. Expert author and clinical psychologist Suzanne Best, PhD., hosts a discussion group for caregivers of veterans and first responders, lending her expertise and support to those she calls “Unsung Heroes.” Currently, group members are discussing topics such as PTSD and TBI (tramautic brain injury), invisible injuries, the many faces of depress and the burden of guilt. New Caregiver Village members and participants in this group are sharing their stories through journaling, finding valuable release from the anger, frustration and anxiety that many of them experience in their daily caregiving work.

"As the daughter of a World War II Veteran, I consider it a great privilege to support our nation’s heroes, whether they have served at home or abroad. Over the years I have witnessed the struggles of those who love and care for our injured first responders and veterans, and I am grateful for the opportunity to join our ‘Unsung Heroes’ in the Caregiver Village community," notes Best, who co-authored the book titled “Courage After Fire,” a self-help book for veterans and their families, and authored a chapter in the Handbook of Police Psychology titled “Critical Incident Stress.”

Best invites anyone dealing with the challenges of caregiving for a returned veteran or a first responder to join Caregiver Village – currently free for the first year – and her group within the Village to get the support they need to in turn support our returning veterans. As Best says, “You are the unsung heroes today.”

To join Suzanne Best and other caregivers of veterans and first responders in Caregiver Village, simply sign up at www.caregivervillage.com and go to “Get Connected.” Caregiver Village is currently offering one year’s free membership.

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