As they work to help veterans get benefits, Jason, Travis and the entire Perkins Studdard team are learning more about the difficult issues veterans face once they return home from serving our country. Unfortunately, two of the conditions most often seen are traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is often hard to truly grasp how these conditions affect those who have fought for our freedom. Several soldiers suffering from PTSD and TBI made masks as part of an art therapy group at the National Intrepid Center for Excellence, located at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. 60 Minutes recently did a story on this project and has posted pictures of some of the masks on CBS’s website.
It is often said that a picture is worth a thousand words. These masks demonstrate the intense feelings and stigmas associated with PTSD and TBI, including pain, guilt, and shame. If you have a few minutes, take a look at the gallery of 13 masks. We found it very helpful in better understanding PTSD, TBI, and other serious issues affecting so many of our veterans who are returning from serving our country.
