Hauenstein Center to host annual PTSD conference

When American veterans return from their tours of duty, the struggles of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI) and moral injury can be difficult for veterans and their families to deal with, and treatment of these often debilitating conditions is just beginning to be understood.

The Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies at Grand Valley State University will host the annual “Hidden Wounds of War” conference to address issues surrounding PTSD and TBI, while increasing awareness of the conditions and educate the community about treatments and resources available to wounded veterans and their families.

This year's conference will focus specifically on moral injury, PTSD, and environmental exposure on the battlefield. 

“Of the many important presentations at this year’s conference, we are especially looking forward to our Thursday morning keynote speaker, Jim Hodges,” said Gleaves Whitney, director of the Hauenstein Center. “Jim is coming back to West Michigan for the fourth time in a decade to discuss his service in the Vietnam War and his experience with PTSD when he came home, and will also talk about issues of concern to veterans and their families. He has the perspective and stories that move audiences and raise awareness of the tough issues our returning men and women in uniform face.”

“Hidden Wounds of War”

Thursday, May 11, 2017

8 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Pew Grand Rapids Campus, Loosemore Auditorium 

401 Fulton Street West, Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Free and open to the public.

Registration is requested here: http://gvsu.edu/s/0rX

A full schedule of the day's presentations and speakers is available here: http://gvsu.edu/s/0s8

The conference is co-presented by the West Michigan Veterans Coalition, Veterans Community Action Teams, MyVA, GVSU Veterans Network and the Soul Repair Center.

For more information contact Elena Bridges with the West Michigan Veterans Coalition at (616) 401-2026.