The Headstrong Project

It's official - our no-cost, confidential, and barrier-free PTSD treatment is now available to service members and veterans in Ohio and North Carolina!

During National Suicide Prevention Month, everyone can play a role in spreading awareness and extending support to those who may struggle to ask for help. This month and always, we’re proud to be part of Face The Fight Coalition alongside nearly 200 organizations and companies that are focused on upstream suicide prevention and dismantling the stigma often associated with asking for help. Learn more about the Coalition and our shared mission at wefacethefight.org. #FaceTheFight #FTF #NationalSuicidePreventionMonth USAA UT Health San Antonio Reach Resilience Humana Elizabeth Dole Foundation Endeavors PsychArmor Cohen Veterans Network Stop Soldier Suicide DAV (Disabled American Veterans) Centerstone

Our mission is to provide America's service members and veterans with equitable access to high-quality, *no-cost, and stigma-free trauma-focused mental health care. Today we are one step closer to that goal as we expand our footprint into Ohio and North Carolina. With these two new additions, our in-person and virtual mental health treatment services are now available in 17 states and Washington, DC. Whether you’re a Buckeye, a Tar Heel, or neither of the above, we hope you'll learn more about our services and spread the word to veterans in your network. If you're a service member or veteran dealing with the hidden wounds of trauma, start your journey with us today. Our military culturally competent team of clinicians stand ready to help you triumph over trauma with *30 no-cost, confidential, research-backed PTSD treatment sessions. Connect to care at theheadstrongproject.org.

23 years ago, our nation was shaken by the tragic events of September 11th. In the face of unimaginable loss, we found unity. We stood together -strangers, neighbors, and communities - lifting one another up, offering support and compassion when it was needed most. Today, we remember those we lost, the heroes who sacrificed, and the resilience that emerged from our shared grief. On this day, let’s reflect on the strength of our collective humanity and the spirit of togetherness that carried us through. May we continue to honor their memory, not only by remembering but by striving to embody that unity and compassion every day. #AlwaysRemember #NeverForget #PatriotsDay

Veteran founded in 2012, The Headstrong Project was established to heal the hidden wounds of trauma by removing barriers such as financial cost, ineffective treatment, and stigma, which often prevent service members and veterans from receiving the quality mental health care they need. On #WorldSuicidePreventionDay and every day, Headstrong stands ready to support the military community by providing 30 no-cost, easy-to-access, and confidential mental health treatment sessions to service members and veterans, and family members connected to their care. Trauma is treatable - take the first step with us today at theheadstrongproject.org. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, mental health struggles, or challenges with substance use, the 988 Lifeline is available 24/7 to provide emotional support.

Today, The Headstrong Project marks a major milestone that underscores our organization’s commitment to America’s veterans, service members, and military families. 𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲'𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲-𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗻𝗼-𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗺𝗮-𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀! To give a sense of scale, with each session representing one hour of care, Headstrong has provided 22 years of continuous PTSD treatment for our nation’s military. This accomplishment reflects the dedication of our incredible staff, the expertise of our 280+ clinicians, the guidance of our co-founders and board of directors, the generosity of our donors, and the invaluable support from our partners and collaborators. Most importantly, this milestone reflects the collective courage of the service members and veterans who have raised their hands and sought our mental health support. Every session is a step toward healing, and every story of recovery is a testament to what we can achieve by breaking down the barriers to PTSD and mental health treatment. Thank you for being part of our journey. Together, we’re making a profound impact—one person and one session at a time. theheadstrongproject.org Daniel Kaepernik Amy Moes Williams, PhD Edward Lord Janel Skelley Zachary Iscol Dave Petrucco Al Rabil Kyle Carpenter Jay Epstien Greg Fishman Umar Latif, MD, FAPA Jameson McFadden Megan Ortiz Darlan Monterisi Ryan Sparks Peter Westmeyer Jim Wilkinson William Wolfe Matthew Zubrow

📍 Recap: VA/DOD Suicide Prevention Conference 2024 We were honored to have our Chief Clinical Officer, Dr. Amy Williams (Amy Moes Williams, PhD), represent The Headstrong Project as a panel speaker at the VA/DoD Suicide Prevention Conference in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Williams joined more than 2,000 attendees dedicated to addressing the pressing issue of military and veteran suicide. The conference brought together U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and United States Department of Defense care teams, leaders, and subject matter experts to share innovative strategies and comprehensive public health approaches. This year's theme, Reimagining Suicide Prevention: Evolving and Innovating to Meet Diverse Needs, highlighted the importance of reaching at-risk service members and veterans, with a special focus on historically underserved populations, including women, LGBTQ+, and American Indian and Alaska Natives. Key takeaways from the event: 1️⃣ Tapping into educational resources that include practice scenarios, created by organizations like PsychArmor can help professionals become more comfortable responding to those at high risk with access to lethal means. 2️⃣ Building relationships with experts at the VA’s Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Veteran Suicide prevention who are focused on serving diverse populations will help power future training initiatives for Headstrong's national team of clinicians. 3️⃣ Coming together strengthens our relationships with partners like Vets4Warriors, Cohen Veterans Network, Stop Soldier Suicide, and UT Health San Antonio who joined Dr. Williams on the panel. We must continue collaborating with the VA and DoD and organizations like Centerstone, USAA, Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Objective Zero Foundation, and others across all sectors on #suicideprevention initiatives to strengthen our impact. We’re so much stronger together. We're excited to build on the insights and connections gained at this event and are committed to working alongside our partners to develop effective solutions. Check out some highlights from the event, including photos of Dr. Williams speaking on the #FacetheFight Suicide Prevention panel!

Thank you JPMorganChase for including The Headstrong Project and our colleague Marissa Wirth in the first-ever Tech Discovery Day! We're grateful to have participated in this day of learning and networking where nonprofit leaders came together for workshops and discussions on data-driven decision-making, curating programs with design, how to keep nonprofits cyber safe, technology road mapping, and much more. #techforsocialgood

Military spouses, caregivers, and loved ones often play a critical role in encouraging our nation's veterans to seek mental health support. Meet Michele, a dedicated #MilitarySpouse, mother of two, and talented communications expert. After Michele's husband retired from the Army and they settled down to raise a family in Idaho's Treasure Valley, she noticed he was struggling with sleep, concentration, and his transition out of service. She recalls, "The strongest person I know was struggling, and I didn't know what to do." Despite witnessing her husband's military service journey firsthand, Michele struggled to understand the complexity of his hidden wounds and how to support him in the aftermath of war trauma. Many military spouses, #caregivers, and loved ones find themselves in the same place; more than willing to help their veteran but not quite sure how. Check out our latest blog post to learn how Michele and her husband overcame these challenges and ultimately, grew stronger together: https://lnkd.in/eGtQRGcC

Meet Maurica. As a mother of three, military spouse, and a career Army veteran with 22 years of service and counting, Maurica has experienced the full spectrum of military life. Despite her pride in her service, she acknowledges that she's faced heavy challenges. She has confronted the loss of dear friends, as well as experienced sexual assault and harassment, which led to struggles with #PTSD, #addiction, and self-destructive behavior. Despite these challenges, she shared, "These same things also paved the way for my career as a #socialworker, my marriage to my husband, and the #resilience that has guided me through many hardships." Struggling with the lingering effects of #trauma, Maurica turned to therapy. Having benefited from both individual and #couplestherapy, she credits it with saving her life and marriage. Check out our latest blog to learn about #Idaho resident Maurica's mental health journey and her belief that "there is light on the other side." https://lnkd.in/emNZcPFA