Virtual stress-management workshops aim to help most vulnerable veterans

In wake of a global pandemic, veterans with PTSD may be hit harder than others. So the Red Cross in Marietta, Ohio has stepped in to provide veterans and their families with virtual stress-management workshops. 

“Some veterans experience what we call post-traumatic stress disorder, and having restrictions placed upon their free movement through the community or being required to wear a mask may … cause them additional stress that someone who’s not experienced military life is not experiencing,” said Sharon Kesselring, executive director of the American Red Cross of the Ohio Valley, to The Marietta Times.

Two free, virtual stress-management workshops will be provided by the Red Cross this month, encouraging service members and their families to learn how to best deal with these issues. Participants are required to register online in advance in order to access the virtual workshops. 

The first workshop will be held on Thursday, August 6th at 4:30 p.m. and the second will be held on Thursday, August 20th at 8:30 p.m. Each session will be led by a Red Cross mental health volunteer in West Virginia. 

“This is going to be a great opportunity to talk, raise some questions, get some answers and learn some coping skills,” Kesselring said.

Registration for the August 6th session can be found here. 

Registration for the August 20th session can be found here.