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How psychedelic drugs turned a Texas veteran's life around and the role Austin plays in research

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:55:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — When C.T. Thompson looks at a picture of himself from a few years ago standing on a snow-covered mountain in Colorado, he sees something others might not. He said he sees a man who was angry and closed off.“I was just struggling to get through a lot of days,” Thompson said. “Everything from anger, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance.”Veteran C.T. Thompson said he sees anger in his face when he looks at this picture taken before psychedelic therapy (Courtesy C.T. Thompson)Thompson is a veteran, an elite Green Beret with more than a dozen years in the military and as a military contractor. Green Berets are Special Forces soldiers described on the U.S. Army recruitment website as "the toughest of tough."“All together, I did seven combat deployments,” he said. He now lives in College Station.He served in Afghanistan, Iraq and a few other places and believes it was prolonged exposure to the terrors of war that wore him down. He said he first started noticing changes in...

Suicide among post-9/11 veterans surged in recent decades: Study

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:55:20 GMT

Suicide remains the second leading cause of death for veterans under the age of 45 and U.S. veterans are at an increased risk of suicide compared to other people. Amid this backdrop, many groups are working the help veterans heal and find help when in crisis. On Veteran Suicide Awareness Day, NewsNation's special coverage is aimed at elevating the voices of veterans, their loved ones and caregivers fighting on the frontlines at home. (NewsNation) — The suicide rate for veterans who served after 9/11 has significantly outpaced the increase among the general population, jumping tenfold from 2006 to 2020, according to new research. The findings — from an analysis of more than 2.5 million service member records — suggest those who served after the September 11 attacks have faced unique challenges adjusting to life after the military.If you or someone you know needs help, resources or someone to talk to, you can find it at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website or by calli...

Preventing veteran suicides: Healing together outside

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:55:20 GMT

Suicide remains the second leading cause of death for veterans under the age of 45, and U.S. veterans are at an increased risk of suicide compared to other people. Amid this backdrop, many groups are working to help veterans heal and find help when in crisis. On Veteran Suicide Awareness Day, NewsNation's special coverage is aimed at elevating the voices of veterans, their loved ones and caregivers fighting on the front lines at home. (NewsNation) — "We trained and prepared to go to war, but when it was over, we just went home," says Daniel Schnacky. He spent 3 1/2 years in active service and says his transition back to civilian life was "jarring." A group — Sheep Dog Impact Assistance — focused on helping veterans heal, build comradery and create a sense of belonging through outdoor programming and events became a lifeline for Schnacky as he readjusted to life at home. If you or someone you know needs help, resources or someone to talk to, you can find it at the National Suici...

Preventing veteran suicides: Navigating the system and self after service

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:55:20 GMT

(NewsNation) — U.S. veterans are at an increased risk of suicide compared to other people — faced with the twin challenges of trauma from their time as service members and hurdles in their ability to access care once they’re home. But community groups and veteran organizations are creating a variety of solutions to intervene. The statistics are stark. Military veterans are 1.5 times more likely to die by suicide than their non-veteran counterparts, according to the American Psychological Association, and suicide remains the second leading cause of death for veterans under the age of 45. If you or someone you know needs help, resources or someone to talk to, you can find it at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website or by calling 988, and pressing 1 for veterans. People are available to talk to 24/7.For more information on resources available to veterans and the groups that participated in NewsNation's coverage, click here.As a result, some states recognize Se...

AI could be the next tool to prevent veteran suicide

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:55:20 GMT

Suicide remains the second leading cause of death for veterans under the age of 45 and U.S. veterans are at an increased risk of suicide compared to other people. Amid this backdrop, many groups are working the help veterans heal and find help when in crisis. On Veteran Suicide Awareness Day, NewsNation's special coverage is aimed at elevating the voices of veterans, their loved ones and caregivers fighting on the frontlines at home. (NewsNation) — With over 6,000 veteran suicides annually, getting consistent and high-quality help with health and wellness can be challenging for veterans.Researchers at the University of Southern California are working on a mobile app called "Battle Buddy" that could deliver help directly to the veteran's phone.The app — currently under development — is patterned off of the military's practice of assigning partners for support both in combat and outside of it. If you or someone you know needs help, resources or someone to talk to, you can fi...

‘It’s not your fault': Lifting up survivors of military sexual trauma

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:55:20 GMT

Suicide remains the second leading cause of death for veterans under the age of 45, and U.S. veterans are at an increased risk of suicide compared to other people. Amid this backdrop, many groups are working to help veterans heal and find help when in crisis. On Veteran Suicide Awareness Day, NewsNation's special coverage is aimed at elevating the voices of veterans, their loved ones and caregivers fighting on the front lines at home. (NewsNation) —“He was married. He knew I was married. He knew my husband. It was just too much,” said Dianne Young, recalling the sexual trauma she experienced while a member of the Marines. She now helps others dealing with the same kind of trauma. Young is a coordinator with Healing Warrior Hearts, a retreat that allows veterans to share emotional wounds including sexual trauma. The group brings survivors together to build meaningful relationships and process the trauma participants experienced. If you or someone you know needs help, r...

Letters: Our veterans and health-care staff deserve better

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:55:20 GMT

Our veterans and staff deserve betterI read your article of Sept. 10 (“Panel to probe veterans homes”), regarding the situations at the MDVA Domiciliaries and the Minneapolis Veterans Home (skilled nursing facility — SNF). It is with my great appreciation that these employees have spoken out regarding the toxic work environments at these facilities. As the former RN Nurse Educator of the Minneapolis Veterans Home, I too can attest to this work environment. It goes far beyond disgruntled employees.As nursing personnel, especially those of considerable expertise and longevity, exit the facilities, everyone should be questioning how this happens. Most of the public is aware of the severe shortage of nursing personnel and the difficulty in recruiting new staff. Additionally, with the exit of such staff, the work-load burden is shifted to those who remain, creating a vicious circle of overwork and burnout that leads to errors in care delivery, some minor, others with ma...

Possible criminal charges mean Marine Le Pen’s political career could be over

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:55:20 GMT

The French far right party now known as the National Rally has edged closer to power under Marine Le Pen, Emmanuel Macron’s opponent in the second round of the last two presidential elections. As like-minded parties make progress in several other European elections, her chances of making a breakthrough when Macron completes his time in office have appeared to be increasing. But could criminal charges in France end Le Pen’s dream of power? - asks Political Editor Nick Powell.The French Presidential election system, with a run-off between the two leading candidates, might have been designed to stop Marine Le Pen, as it did her father before her. It enables the mainstream parties to sink their differences and in an act of ‘republican solidarity’ prevent the victory of a candidate they see as a challenger to the democratic norms of the Fifth Republic.It’s worked until now but there’s always the danger of reaching a tipping-point, where the far-right’s electoral base has grown to an ext...

CHP unit involved in violent multi-vehicle crash on 101 Freeway 

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:55:20 GMT

A crash involving multiple vehicles, including a CHP patrol car, sent multiple people to the hospital early Sunday morning. According to reports from CHP, the collision occurred on the eastbound span of the 101 Freeway near the Hayvenhurst Avenue exit in Encino just after 12:40 a.m.The crash took place immediately after a CHP-initiated traffic stop for an unrelated incident, authorities said. A crash involving multiple vehicles, including a CHP patrol car, sent multiple people to the hospital on Sept. 24, 2023. (KeyNews)A crash involving multiple vehicles, including a CHP patrol car, sent multiple people to the hospital on Sept. 24, 2023. (KeyNews)A crash involving multiple vehicles, including a CHP patrol car, sent multiple people to the hospital on Sept. 24, 2023. (KeyNews)A crash involving multiple vehicles, including a CHP patrol car, sent multiple people to the hospital on Sept. 24, 2023. (KeyNews)CHP also confirmed reports that one of the drivers involved in the collision atte...

1 dead, 2 hurt after triple shooting outside home in Wilmington 

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:55:20 GMT

A late-night shooting claimed the life of one man and sent two other people to the hospital. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, officers responded to the 1000 block of Sanford Avenue in Wilmington around 11:45 p.m. Saturday night. Upon arrival, they found three victims – who were reportedly standing outside of a residence drinking when gunfire erupted – suffering from gunshot wounds. All three were transported to the local medical centers. One of the victims, a 50-year-old man, was pronounced deceased at the hospital after paramedics attempted CPR multiple times, police said.  Video shows SoCal deputy slamming girl on ground in violent brawl The two other victims, only identified as a 36-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman, were taken to hospitals in critical and stable condition, respectively. Details on a suspect are limited, with the gunman only being identified as a Hispanic man. He fled the scene on foot in an unknown direction after the shooting occur...