For many Veterans, admitting their struggles and seeking help is an uphill battle. For Scott, an Iraq War Veteran, acknowledging his posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was the most daunting challenge he had to face.
Scott’s PTSD, depression, and anxiety cost him his marriage and many friendships. At his lowest point, he was admitted to a hospital’s mental health ward to ensure his safety due to a high risk of suicide. Despite being employed, Scott was homeless when he turned to Easterseals NH’s Veterans Count Program in 2018 and called the Veterans Crisis Line every morning just to find the will to make it through another day.
“I had to reach rock bottom,” Scott admitted. “When you feel hopeless, you do not want to hear about help.”
Veterans Count provides a safety net of critical case management and emergency financial assistance to meet the unexpected needs of service members, Veterans, and their families. Scott was able to receive mental health counseling and secure housing through the program.
Scott’s situation improved, but in 2020, he suffered two heart attacks, depleting his savings. Veterans Count continued to support Scott, but in 2022, he lost his job. That’s when Veterans Count suggested filing a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) compensation claim.
Scott was initially hesitant to file a claim and reluctant to open old wounds by discussing his PTSD. However, with encouragement from Leslie, a Program Manager at Veterans Count, he found he could express himself through art. Leslie made sure Scott was not alone in his struggles with mental health. Drawing allowed him to put his traumatic experiences into words to write a claim.
“They [Veterans] have to be willing to pick the scab,” explained Leslie. “We’re not the ones who have to relive the experience; they are.”
Thanks to Veterans Count’s assistance, Scott received 100 percent VA service connection benefits and Social Security Disability Insurance. He now lives in a quiet 55-and-over community and continues working with Veterans Count clinicians to address his symptoms, helping him reconnect with friends and express himself.
“Everything in my life was out of control,” Scott continued. “I knew I had to start living again.”