Veteran’s Services

Veterans Crisis Hotline

800-273-8255

838255 (Text)

• The Veterans Crisis Line connects Service members and Veterans in crisis, as well as their family members and friends, with qualified, caring VA responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text-messaging service.

Veterans’ Legal Hotline

443-863-4040

https://www.peoples-law.org/joining-forces-project-veterans-hotline

• Tuesdays: 3 – 7 pm
• Thursdays: 9:30 am – 1:30 pm

Disabled American Veterans

Old Glory Chapter #22 PO Box 764, Westminster, MD 21158-0764

www.dav.org

443-375-0595

• To provide emergency services for disabled American veterans including assistance with paperwork for needed services.
• On a state level, DAV offers counseling on veterans’ compensation, health care, pension, employment rights, and more. Also extends disaster relief to disabled veterans affected by natural calamities. Nationwide, the organization works toward legislation benefiting disabled veterans, their widows, spouses, and orphans.
• This chapter also supports programs at Veterans Administration Medical Centers in Baltimore, Fort Howard, and Martinsburg, West Virginia.
• For veterans who served and have a service-connected disability, their immediate families, and Gold Star mothers.

Maryland Commitment to Veterans

877-770-4801

https://health.maryland.gov/bha/veterans/Pages/Home.aspx

• To aid veterans and their families to support a healthy transition to civilian life.
• Maryland’s Commitment to Veterans offers information and referrals to community resources and assists veteran while they navigate the various resource options available to them within the local community as well as Veterans Affairs.

Veteran Services Program of Carroll County

125 Stoner Avenue, Westminster, MD 21157

410-386-3800

www.carrollveterans.com

• The Veteran Services Program employs three part-time Veteran Services Officers (VSO’s) who assist Carroll County Veterans with completing and filing pension and compensation claims (for service-connected disabilities) with the Veterans Administration.
• The VSO’s assist Veterans with obtaining military discharge papers, link Veterans to the VA Medical System, advocate for Veterans and connect them to other community resources.
• The Veteran Services Program also assists Veterans with accessing behavioral health resources and accessing treatment for addiction and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
• Veteran Services staff will assist Veterans with registering for the Veterans Shuttle Transportation Program which transports qualified Veterans to four VA Medical Facilities at no charge.
• The shuttle transports Veterans to the following locations: Baltimore VA Medical Center, Loch Raven, Ft. Detrick and the VA Medical Center in Martinsburg, WV.

Bridges to Recovery – Finding Support Groups/Networks

https://www.bridgestorecovery.com/blog/staying-ahead-of-ptsd-finding- support-groups-or-networks/

• To view the recommended online groups/communities/online forums, scroll down to “A Variety of Available Forums”

CPTD Foundation – Safe Virtual Community

https://cptsdfoundation.org/safe-support-groups/

• Has a virtual “Safe Support Group” that exists as a private Facebook group for adults living with Complex PTSD, moderated by CPTD Foundation Staff.

Everyday Health, PTSD-Guide-Resources

https://www.everydayhealth.com/ptsd/guide/resources/

• To view their list of support groups, scroll down to “Best Advocacy and Support Groups for PTSD”. Some of these groups are for military veterans, but not all— there are also other resources/info offered on this site.

Gateway to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Information

https://www.gatewayfoundation.org/mental-health/trauma-and-ptsd/#:~:text=PTSD%20symptoms%20may%20show%20up,and%20occur%20many%20years%20after.

• Website containing links to other sites/organizations that provide PTSD support/advocacy (National Center for PTSD, The Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, Gift from Within, The National Center for Victims of Crime)

Hope Recovery

https://www.hope4-recovery.org/

• Registration site for their Support Groups & Workshops.
• Hope Recovery’s support program offers survivors of abuse and sexual trauma a variety of support groups, workshops, newsletters, and publications to assist, educate and support the journey of healing. Related issues that survivors may experience include PTSD, dissociation, eating disorders, and relapse prevention for addictions.”

Maryland TraumaNet

https://www.maryland-traumanet.com/mental-health/online-support- communities-you-are-not-alone/

• Maryland TraumaNet offers a comprehensive list of online support groups and communities for different mental health conditions.

Mental Health America (MHA)

https://www.mhanational.org/find-support-groups

• “Find Support Groups” Tool/Database
• Contains information about national and local specialized support group options (including PTSD), as well as other resources.

National Center for PTSD

https://www.ptsd.va.gov/index.asp

• While this is a resource from the U.S. Dept of Veterans Affairs, it does have resources about PTSD awareness, services, and getting help for all who need support.

PTSD Alliance

http://www.ptsdalliance.org/help/

• Provides list of resources/support links, including directories and tools to find PTSD support groups in your area.

PTSD United

https://ptsdunited.org/

• A health & wellness website with articles, reviews, and information about topics related to PTSD and other health issues—has a free, anonymous online social/support community.

Sidran Institute: Traumatic Stress education & Advocacy

https://www.sidran.org/for-survivors-and-loved-ones/

• Contains helpful resources for survivors and loved ones, among other trauma resources such as articles/fact sheets, info about treatment options, and special topics.

The Dart Center

https://dartcenter.org/topic/ptsd-mental-health

• Contains information in the form of articles, tips, videos, and other tools through their site about coping with traumatic stress, PTSD, and managing mental health.

Trauma Survivors Network – Peer Support Groups

https://www.traumasurvivorsnetwork.org/pages/peer-support-groups

• Contains information about how to join a peer support group and locate one in your area. Also has an online community forum of their own to (as written on website) “link up with other survivors and their families for information, support, and ”