Grand Valley and the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies will co-host and co-sponsor the 2016 Hidden Wounds of War conference that focuses on the growing issues of PTSD as well as physical and emotional injuries suffered by veterans of America's armed forces.
Several different topics will be discussed by national experts, including a keynote presentation by retired Brig. Gen. Stephen Xenakis, a psychiatrist and former commander of the Southeast Regional Army Medical Command.
The conference will provide resources and tips for returning veterans, their family members, those who treat them and the general community. The purpose of the conference is to promote the understanding of traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress injury/disorder and moral injury; clarify the roles of physicians, social workers, psychologists and clergy in helping returning veterans; identify community resources; establish a solid community referral network to specifically treat combat related TBI, PTSD and moral injury; and begin a dialogue to identify practical and effective strategies for treating wounded veterans.
2016 Hidden Wounds of War Conference
May 19 and 20
Grand Valley State University's Pew Grand Rapids Campus
DeVos Center, Loosemore Auditorium
401 W. Fulton Street
The conference is free and open to the public. Registration is available here: http://gvsu.edu/s/09I
Several topics will be discussed during each day of the conference. Topics on May 19 will include human rights and psychological ethics, while topics on May 20 will include strategies for coping with PTSD, veterans resources, transition and moral injury.
In addition to support from Grand Valley and the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies, the conference is co-sponsored by the Michigan Military PTSD Task Force, RiverView Psychological Services, P.C., West Michigan Veterans Coalition, Forest View Hospital and the American Legion.
