Ilona Meagher is moving Congress to care about PTSD as well as the nation

NIU journalism student to testify before Congressional committee

Northern Illinois University journalism student Ilona Meagher, who has become a leading voice for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and earlier this year published a book on the topic, will testify on Wednesday, Dec. 12, before a Congressional committee.

Meagher is scheduled to testify on Capitol Hill before the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs at a hearing to examine current mental health care available to our nation's veterans.

The hearing will focus on two recent reports: a National Alliance to End Homelessness study showing that one out of four homeless are veterans and a CBS News report that found the rate of suicide among veterans is double that of the general population.

The issue of veterans' difficulties upon reentering civilian life is close to the heart of Meagher, a 41-year-old former flight attendant turned advocate. In 2005, after being moved by a news account of veterans of Iraq who had committed suicide, Meagher began collecting media reports of combat-related PTSD incidents.

Eventually, her work developed into the “PTSD Timeline” that is now maintained online by ePluribus Media, a citizen-journalism initiative. It was the first public collection of possible, probable and confirmed reports of post-combat reintegration difficulties. The timeline has been accessed by dozens of media outlets and government offices.

Meagher also launched an online blog, “PTSD Combat: Winning the War Within.” In the spring of 2006, her work drew the attention of Ig Publishing in New York, which asked her to write a book on the plight of returning veterans. Meagher devoted herself to the project, reading all she could on PTSD and interviewing veterans, their family members, veterans' advocates and medical experts.

http://www.midweeknews.com/articles/2007/12/12/local/de%20kalb_county/dekalbcounty06.txt

Experts to testify on preventing vet suicides

Experts to testify on preventing vet suicides

By Karen Jowers - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Dec 11, 2007 17:18:49 EST

The parents of an Army reservist who committed suicide after returning from Iraq will testify before the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee on Wednesday as lawmakers explore the Veterans Affairs Department’s challenges in helping veterans deal with mental health issues.

Mike and Kim Bowman are on the first of six panels of witnesses who were scheduled to testify at the hearing, which will focus on suicide prevention and treatment within the VA health care system.

Two authors of books about post-traumatic stress disorder also will testify, as will veterans’ advocates from Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, Vietnam Veterans of America, the American Legion and Disabled Veterans of America. After the testimony from other panelists, including officials from the VA’s Veterans Health Administration and inspector general’s office, the authors and veterans service organizations’ representatives will return to share their reflections on that testimony.

According to the committee, the Veterans Health Administration estimates there are about 1,000 suicides per year among veterans receiving care through VHA, and as many as 5,000 suicides per year among all living veterans.
go here for the rest
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/12/military_suicidehearing_071211w/

Ilona Meagher to testify at House hearing on Veterans

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Upcoming House Veterans' Affairs Committee Hearing on Veteran Suicide and Homelessness
Passing along word of an important hearing to be held by the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs at 10 a.m. on December 12, 2007.

I have been asked to testify before Congress to discuss Stopping Suicide and Ending Homelessness: Mental Health Challenges Within the Department of Veterans Affairs, and have accepted the generous invitation.Will pass along further details as I have them on related Washington, D.C. events we are planning.

From the Committee's press release:

Ilona Meagher author in the trenches against PTSD

Ilona Meagher of Caledonia, a journalism student at Northern Illinois University, wrote the book “Moving A Nation To Care: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and America’s Returning Troops.” Meagher also maintains a blog and database of post-traumatic stress-related incidents.

Caledonia author in the trenches against PTSD
Ilona Meagher’s book on post-traumatic stress disorder just one step in ongoing project to help GIs adapt after war.
Nov 07, 2007 @ 06:00 AM
By Elizabeth Davies
RRSTAR.COM
CALEDONIA -
Ilona Meagher had never met anyone with post-traumatic stress disorder. She didn’t have any family members returning from Iraq, and she didn’t have military training.

In other words, there was no particular reason Meagher, a former flight attendant who lives in Caledonia, would become a passionate advocate for American soldiers struggling to adapt to life after war.

Except she saw the issue for more than its statistics. She did more than read a newspaper article and think, “Such a shame.” Rather, this 41-year-old envisioned the families torn apart by soldiers who, unable to cope with their memories of Iraq, took their own lives.

Meagher understood what those families were going through. In 2000, she lost her big sister to suicide. Her sister wasn’t a veteran, and she didn’t have post-traumatic stress disorder. But a loss is a loss, and families mourn for their loved ones just the same.

That’s why Meagher has dedicated her work — raising awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder among veterans — to her sister’s memory.

“I realize that the work must be my way of trying to make something — anything — good come out of a really difficult time for me and my family,” she said. “I see military families doing the same thing after their loved one commits suicide. A family that’s never been publicly active before is moved to do whatever they can do to see that no one else has to suffer the same loss, walk the same dark pathway.”

Go here for the rest

http://www.rrstar.com/homepage/x676132850

Ilona Meagher takes to radio to talk about PTSD

Sunday, November 04, 2007

Discussing Combat PTSD on Midmorning w/Kerri Miller, Mary Jane PoppOff Shows
Passing along news of my two upcoming radio interviews discussing combat PTSD this week. Minnesota Public Radio's Midmorning with Kerri Miller show has invited me on tomorrow morning.

And on Wednesday afternoon, I'll appear on the Mary Jane PoppOff Show.

Both have online streams. Details:

http://ptsdcombat.blogspot.com/2007/11/discussing-combat-ptsd-on-midmorning.html

BRAVO LADY!