CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

Webinar series to help Lehigh Valley veterans, first responders with mental stress from coronavirus pandemic

Morning Call - 5/14/2020

Starting Tuesday, a webinar series will connect Lehigh Valley’s military veterans and emergency responders to resources to help them with the mental and emotional challenges resulting from the coronavirus pandemic.

Presented by the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Veterans & Military Council, “Helping Our Heroes” is a three-part webinar series scheduled for Tuesdays at 10 a.m.May 19 and 26 and June 2.

The series will feature guest speakers providing information on services and resources addressing physical, mental and emotional well-being for veterans, first responders and their families and friends, said Ron Jerdon, chair of the Veterans & Military Council.

“Recently, the council was contacted by a number of nonprofits who serve our veteran and first-responder community with a genuine concern relating to the mental stressors of isolation as a result of mandated lockdowns due to COVID-19," Jerdon said. “They were looking to our council to provide awareness and education on what’s available to those that have proven their unwavering dedication and commitment serving our country and our communities."

Veterans & Military Council spokeswoman Alison Pickel said, "Social isolation is extremely difficult for anyone dealing with anxiety and depression. The simple act of gathering together with people who share similar experiences and challenges is a very beneficial form of therapy and rehabilitation, particularly as it relates to someone’s emotional and mental well-being.

“The council wanted to provide a platform to let military veterans and first responders know that many organizations are still in operation to support them,” Pickel said. “It’s more important to connect now than ever before.”

The first webinar will feature guest speakers Matt Guedes, executive director of Camp Freedom PA for veterans, first responders and their families, and Jenny Pacanowski, founder and director of Women Veterans Empowered & Thriving.

For veterans and first responders with mental health issues as a result of their service, “the forced isolation has taken many of them into mental distress that shows itself in many negative ways,” Guedes said. “At Camp Freedom, we work daily to help heal our heroes with outdoor adventures one person or family at a time.”

Pacanowski said, "Isolation is a killer! We need to stay connected through community, camaraderie and workshops. The team at Women Veterans Empowered & Thriving utilizes writing and performance to empower challenging experiences and facilitate skills in daily life for veterans and first responders. We’re grateful to be a part of this initiative as it aligns with our mission to help each other to become the best version of ourselves.”

Also featured will be Air Force Lt. Col. Alex Alexander, director of Lehigh Valley Health Network’s Veteran Health Program.

“First responders perform a vital role that all citizens of our community depend upon daily," Alexander said. “These men and women need and require access to services for their well-being.”

A fourth guest will be Adalberto Morales Sr., suicide prevention coordinator at the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center. In addition the webinar series’ first installment will have an update from Workforce Board Lehigh Valley and PA CareerLink on veteran employment resources.

“The bottom line is we need to ensure that our veterans and first responders, many of whom are also vets, are taken care of," said Tom Applebach, director of the Lehigh County Office of Veterans Affairs. "It is incumbent upon all of us who benefit from their service to play our part. We need to always support them, care for them and make sure they know that we’re all in this together”.

Freddie Ramirez, director of the Northampton County Office of Veterans Affairs, said, “We need to help our service members today, tomorrow and for the foreseeable future.”

To register for the webinar series or learn more, visit: www.lehighvalleychamber.org/helpingourheroes.

Morning Call reporter Andrew Scott can be reached at 610-820-6508 or ascott@mcall.com.

We rely on the support of our subscribers to fund our journalism as we continue to cover the coronavirus crisis. If you’re not already signed up, we hope you will consider subscribing. Already a print subscriber? If you haven’t already, please activate your digital access.

___

(c)2020 The Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.)

Visit The Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.) at www.mcall.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.