Veterans Voices: South Texas organization aims to give emotional support to local Veterans

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The biggest challenge for Veterans once they are discharged from the military is trying to adjust to civilian life. For many Veterans, it’s the challenge of dealing with a range of emotions left behind from their service to our country.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs about 7% of Veterans will get Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at some point in their lives. Only half of those Veterans will actually get treatment. But a group of Veterans in Brownsville are looking to close that gap and it’s as simple as just talking to one another.

Whether it’s just talking about their weekend plans or helping each other get through a rough patch in their life, every week the South Texas Afghanistan-Iraq Veteran’s Association (STAIVA) comes together to make sure Rio Grande Valley Veterans get the peer support they need, all through group conversations.

“They love it at the organization. I think because we let them be open to be who they are," said STAIVA Director Leah Leggett Martinez. "They express how they feel and the fact that other people know and understand their feelings makes them feel that they are not alone. “

For local Veterans like John Raschilla who served in the military for over 20 years, this support group makes huge impact in his life.

“This is my medicine today. I need these groups to be able to live in this world that I am living in now from the things that have happened," Raschilla said. "I need the support of all my brothers and sisters who have been there and done that, and don’t want to do the negative things. I want to live a positive life.”

Raschilla was discharged from the military in 2010 due to medical reasons but still wanted to keep serving. Because of this, Raschilla needed emotional support from fellow Veterans and helped start the peer support program at STAIVA.

Raschilla says the main goal of the peer support program is to help get fellow Veterans get out of their shells and feel more at home.

“One of the biggest things of being outside is that we don’t feel safe around a lot of other people," Raschilla said. " But when we are together, we feel more comfortable and when you get that feeling again, it’s a good feeling.”

Another local Veteran, James Hansen, was discharged from the Military in 1982 and struggled with his emotions for decades. Hansen says there has been a major shift in making it more common for people to talk about their emotions and what it’s like dealing with PTSD.

"It’s kind of becoming known, but it’s still not something that everybody knows," Hansen said. "We deal with how do we get from the problems we have right now to where we want to get and it’s a long process, counseling takes time.”

But the biggest impact for all of the local Veterans who have joined STAIVA is learning it is OK to reach out for help rather than staying silent.

“What I used to do is that I would always push it off to the side and say I don’t need help, I don’t need to talk about it," said Veteran Brenda Peña. "What I would tell other people is that even if you don’t want to step out, because the only way you are going to do it is because of you. You are the first person that is going to help yourself.”

While all these Veterans have found lifelong friends with each other at STAIVA, they also want to be the helping hand for others who need to take the extra step.

"I want you to live a better life tomorrow, but you’ve got to do that stuff today," Raschilla said. "There’s a lot of things that we can show you how to live a better life for tomorrow.”

“I’m at home, and I haven’t felt that," Hansen said. "But now I feel that I’m at home.”

The STAIVA Peer Support Group meets every Tuesday at The Community Action Cooperate Building in Brownsville located at 519 E. Madison St.

You can also call their office at (956) 266-7521 for more information on the peer support group and the programs they offer to Veterans.