In honor of World Mental Health Day, we would like to share some of the incredible ways our programs here at Little Blessings are impacting the mental health of Veterans every day!
We track PTSD symptoms utilizing the PCL-5, a standardized, self-report measure used across the mental health field to record the presence and severity of symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in adults. These results are tracked through several different data points over the course of the program and then analyzed by a licensed mental health professional.
93% of Veterans that have graduated from our 50-week Equine Assisted Therapy program have experienced a clinically significant decrease in their PCL-5 scores, with decreases up to 42 points! When compared to a study published in 2023 that reported 70% of individuals diagnosed with PTSD will see symptom improvements across all accepted forms of treatment, our evidence-based interventions are producing remarkable results.
The symptoms that our Veterans report the most significant improvement in are blaming themselves or others for their traumatic experiences, experiencing strong negative emotions (sadness, anger, etc) a majority of the time, and experiencing a strong, unpleasant physical reaction when reminded of their traumatic experiences.
We also find it important to mention that graduates, on average, report a more than 25% improvement in feeling isolated and cut off from others as well as having trouble experiencing any positive feelings at all. This can be attributed not only to our structured programming, but also the community that we strive to nurture for Veterans and their families.
A 2023 Veteran graduate says, “I wouldn’t be where I am right now without the experiences, support, and compassion I had while in the program. I would tell them (other Veterans considering entering the program) it’s one of the best decisions they could ever make for themselves and those who love them.”
If you or your organization would like to play a vital role in this miraculous impact, please contact Jamie Paxton at 419-779-0342 or visit http://lbveteranoutreach.org/donate/ to find out how you can sponsor a Veteran’s transformative healing journey.