Editorial: 15,000 sons and daughters are left out in the cold

By Sharrise Magdalena Boop

Do you ever think twice as you slip into your nice, warm bed after a long day or as you tuck your little one in at night with a goodnight kiss what sacrifices were made for you to enjoy that freedom? Most of us do not. But there are more than 15,000 reasons why you should. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, 15,179 sons and daughters comprise the homeless men and women veterans sleeping on the streets of California alone — a figure more than the entire population of Corona Del Mar.

With the month of May, most of us think of Mother’s Day or our three-day Memorial Day weekend. But the month of May is also recognized as National Mental Health Awareness Month and Military Appreciation Month. Besides worrying about what the card will read inside, what flowers to buy, or what gift to get for our moms to celebrate and thank them, we should remember all the mothers of those 15,000 sons and daughters; how no mother should ever have imagine their child sleeping out on the streets, or being sick with no one to help get them better — especially when their child has sacrificed so much for others.

So if you saw a child on the street alone, shivering in the cold, hungry and sick … would you hurry past them? Or would you do something to help? Why then is it different for these veterans? They, too, are also someone’s child.

With 1.8 million veterans in California, the largest population of veterans in the nation, the approval of Proposition 12 in 2008, Assembly Bill 639 in 2013, and Proposition 41 in 2014 have all made strides toward providing housing for veterans. However, that’s not enough. Similar to putting a bandage on a stab wound, it may temporarily stop the bleeding but it won’t fix the underlying problems or what’s happening below the surface.

With veterans suffering from higher levels of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) due to their exposure to extreme violence and brutality in the military, in conjunction to possible traumatic brain injury and military sexual trauma, the conditions alone are directly linked to the greater perceived need for mental health services. Due to the lack of social support this population receives, these veterans struggle with psychological ailments and unfortunately do not utilize the services available to them. That is why they need mental health professionals who are aware of their mental health condition and are able to assist them appropriately.

Senate Bill 689 therefore ensures for veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless that once these individuals are placed into a housing program funded by Proposition 41, programs with a mental health professional on staff will address the individual’s mental health conditions accordingly. Senate Bill 689 will also provide job training, mental health and drug treatment, case management, care coordination, and physical rehabilitation. This will ultimately improve the veteran’s self-determination and self-efficacy to be better equipped to excel in other aspects of their lives.

Join Sen. Robert Huff, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Sacramento, College Hospital of Costa Mesa, CarePossible and ShareOurSelves, along with countless veterans, active duty members, and friends and family of veterans and active duty members who have already pledged their letters of support. Do something today and contact your legislators and elected officials in support of Senate Bill 689.

This legislation will help provide mental health services to over 15,000 deserving sons and daughters. Senate Bill 689 deserves your attention and support.

—Sharrise Magdalena Boop lives in San Juan Capistrano and is currently enrolled in the master of social work program at the University of Southern California.

Editorial: Report on veteran suicide brings awareness to military mental health

By Alison Yee

Contrary to popular belief, Memorial Day is not just about having the day off from work and watching the parade on television, nor is it about waving your American flag on the front porch of your house. It’s about defending the heroes of our country and helping those veterans who are no longer able to fight their own battles. While it is important to honor those who have lost their lives while in service, it is equally as important to acknowledge the huge population of veterans who are suffering everyday from severe mental and emotional distress. It’s time to address the stigma towards mental illness and face the facts: We are all vulnerable to mental health issues.

There are 15,000 veterans sleeping on the streets of California and 8,300 of them need mental health services. A report by the Department of Veterans Affairs showed that about 8,000 veterans commit suicide each year, equating to 22 suicides daily. As a community, we need to recognize the enormous population of homeless veterans that are suffering from a mental illness. How often do we acknowledge someone living on the streets but walk past them with our nose in our phones? Maybe our inactions actually contribute to the larger problem.

Homeless veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or military sexual trauma are more vulnerable to mental health conditions including depression, PTSD, substance abuse disorders, bipolar disorders, personality disorders, and suicide.

The solution is clear: Veterans need more of our attention.

There’s no reason to perceive homeless veterans any differently than if he or she was your own family member. It’s time to express our support for policies that have the potential to enhance services that are crucial for survival. Although there are services available, the California Research Bureau found that “California’s veterans use fewer benefits than do their peers at the national level.” This is due to lack of intensive outreach.

California SB 689 (find out more at tinyurl.com/m66j6xj) is the first step toward a resolution. If passed, homeless veterans will be provided essential services like mental health assessments, crisis interventions, individual and group therapy, and support groups, all of which will have a licensed mental health professional that is available 24/7. These programs will allow mental health professionals to thoroughly assess each veteran and create a treatment plan that is unique to that individual’s needs. By implementing this bill, veterans will be getting the attention they need by professionals who are trained and have the education necessary to prevent further suicides and promote mental wellness.

The wraparound treatment that SB 689 will produce is exactly what veterans need in order to reduce and prevent the risk of suicide. We can’t sit here any longer to watch our great heroes surrender and fall to their own demons. There is something that can be done, and we have the opportunity to help ensure that this population receives the safety and support that they deserve.

The reality is that these people are mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers, cousins, grandparents and friends. If they were your family member, what would you do to help them? This Memorial Day, do more than just hang a flag or watch the parade. On your day off, call your Sacramento legislature and tell them to support SB 689 so that veterans receive the services they need. Today, you have the opportunity to save a life.

—Alison Yee is a first-year graduate student in the USC School of Social Work program.

Letters      

More feedback on Kensington Commons

Reference [see “Kensington Commons, urban living fitting into a community,” Vol.7, Issue 9].

After reading the article, I decided to visit the project; the overall impression was not good. Santa Barbara residents would be appalled to hear this project described as Santa Barbara-style. And the rather bland architecture certainly doesn’t reflect the more exemplary architecture to the west.

I assume the building was photographed at a distance in an attempt to mask the facade. And I assume it was photographed from Marlborough rather than from Edgeware in order not to show the 34 SDG&E meters lined up along Edgeware — certainly not pedestrian-friendly.

The project sets a low bar for implementing the City of Villages. I hope the city does better in the future. And, furthermore, the project does nothing to stunt outward sprawl. No property has been removed from the market and no plans in the County have been revised in conjunction with the approval of this project.

—Dave Potter

The letter from Hugh and Frances Kamen is greatly appreciated. I am amazed at the distorted promotions of Kensington Commons. It certainly does NOT fit at all with the historic Kensington neighborhood. And it was definitely not approved by any majority of Kensington residents.

The massive profit-producing project has created serious traffic and parking problems and its largest business on the property has not yet opened. Apparently, neither the developers nor the city have any commitment to mitigate these concerns.

—Hollis Allen, Kensington resident