NAMI Miami (National Alliance on Mental Illness - Veterans

Guests: Kathy Coppola, Executive Director, NAMI Miami (National Alliance on Mental Illness). Anita Herron, National Manager of Educational Programs, Homefront Program, NAMI The program focuses on mental health challenges Veterans face when transitioning to civilian life, and the impact of their experiences on family and friends. Coppola is the daughter of a World War II Veteran; Herron’s father is a Vietnam Veteran, and her husband is a Veteran of the ongoing war in Afghanistan. They share their personal stories of how each Veteran handled their emotional difficulties differently and explain how a Veteran’s abilities to cope with the lasting effects of war are often dependent on the cultural norms of the time: the public’s reaction to the war, expectations of gender-specific behavior, and the availability of Mental Health Assistance, which until recently has been largely stigmatized by both the Military and the general public. Acceptance of Mental Health Care is growing, and NAMI has programs, such as ‘Homefront’ specifically for Veterans. http://www.namimiami.org http://www.nami.org/homefront