JOPLIN, Mo. — Many soldiers find it rewarding to have served in the military. Still, going back to normal life can be hard sometimes. But an Ozark Center is helping soldiers make that change more easily.
We can only hold the door open, give them a chance, and let them know that someone, somewhere, can help.
One of the hardest things for us has been getting rid of the shame surrounding mental health, said Roger Koch.
Koch is a vet who served in the U.S. military and knows how important it is to help vets who are having PTSD and sometimes suicidal ideas.
“One is enough for us, but you look at 22 a day? That’s crazy.” “Before it gets to that point, we want to do everything we can to help them,” Koch said.
As a military liaison for the Veterans Integration Program, he helps vets get services like counseling, virtual reality therapy, social support, and help with finding a place to live.
When it comes to mental health, there is no clear answer to what a soldier might be going through. We let everything in to try to at least keep the door open and let them know that there are different ways to get help.
Koch makes it clear that VIP is for anyone who has been in the service.
Some people only think of them in terms of battle, which is the hardest thing about them. A lot of soldiers didn’t pick whether they wanted to serve in the U.S. or another country.
We all have problems, and I just want to help them through theirs.