Outreach and education center treats women vets
Tens of millions of veterans in the United States are women. The U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs estimates up to 15 percent of all veterans receiving care will soon be women--and this means care and outreach must expand to address the needs of women where VA centers have historically treated mostly men.
Women are now in the trenches--and hospitals, and mortuary centers--right alongside men in increasing numbers, and are experiencing the long-term effects like trauma and PTSD like their male counterparts.
Shiloh Morrison was part of the 2007 troop surge in Iraq. She saw the cost of the conflict, in human lives and bodies, for four months while assisting Army Mortuary Affairs.
Morrison's needs were recognized during a routine checkup because a multidisciplinary team was able to pinpoint and begin addressing specific issues, says Natara Garavoy, a doctor and the director of the Women's Prevention, Outreach and Education Center. Morrison has already made progress and the center continues to follow up with her regularly, Garavoy says.
"Women have different needs. We deal with anger in different ways; we deal with stress in different ways," says Morrison of the unique approach the women's center provides. "I just don't think I could've been the person I am today without it."
Watch the whole profile on the Marine Reservist, and hear the stories of more American veterans at the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs Office of Public Affairs page.
Work-Life Balance Tips for Women
Striking the right balance between work and personal or family life can be difficult for anyone, but women are most expected to achieve engagement and balance between all areas of their lives. Here, Ajanta De, the founder of InnerSight Counseling in India, gives tips on work-life balance for women. Women trying to juggle work and family life have to contend with many difficult emotions and obligations, she says. Guilt often hangs over women's heads as they worry that they can't do justice to every area of their lives.
De reminds women—especially mothers—to keep in mind that there's not going to be a perfect balance.
"It's a seesaw," she says. "Every day brings new challenges. There are going to be days when you feel stretched." She advises women to acknowledge the struggle, accept it and take a step back to evaluate and decide what they most value in their work and personal lives.
It's also crucial for women to identify the support systems around themselves, personally and professionally—and to be willing to reach out to them. Perhaps most importantly, De advises women to let go of the idea of perfection and to accept that no one will ever achieve perfection—especially not in every area of her life at once.
"There is this need to be a perfect everything," she says. "Let go of this idea of being a pefect anything. Just listen to yourself, hear what you want to be and just follow that."
HerBody by mDhil puts out new videos every Monday, Wednesday and Friday focusing on girls' and women's health. Visit InnerSight Counseling or like their Facebook page.