Community comes together for Veterans mental health summit

Texas Valley Coastal Bend VA held the 2024 Veterans Community Mental Health Summit on a sunny Friday in August at the new Coastal Bend Food Bank facility in the heart of Corpus Christi, Texas.

The food bank had a different feel that day. The Mobile Medical Unit and the Mobile Vet Center made a grand entrance into the spacious parking lot. And 27 local organizations brought along portable tables and outreach materials to share with Veterans and their families.

The Honor Guard from the Coastal Bend Memorial Service Detachment, led by Commander Tony Acevedo, brought a sense of patriotism to the event. The ballroom was further brightened by Salina Ramirez, Miss Jr. Teen Texas Latin America, who sang the national anthem. The day was filled with camaraderie, shared knowledge and the collective aim to improve mental health support for all Veterans.

The annual Community Mental Health Summit is an opportunity for all stakeholders to come together, share insights and brainstorm solutions for better mental health support for Veterans.

Creative pursuits add joy and meaning to their lives

Suicide prevention coordinator Rosalie Flores shared VA’s S.A.V.E training. Veteran Jerry Pena contributed to the discussion on suicide prevention, providing insights on secure storage of firearms.

Attendees participated in an invigorating Tai Chi break (above) and received tips on how diet can influence mental health. Veterans also shared how their creative pursuits add joy and meaning to their lives.

A panel of Veterans spoke openly about their mental health struggles and the steps they’ve taken toward recovery. The key takeaway? The first step to recovery is the hardest, but it’s worth it.

The day ended with Veterans receiving a box of fresh produce from the food bank. The goal was for everyone to leave the event with hearts full of hope, minds full of knowledge and hands full of fresh food.

At the end of the day, VA mental health staff and Veterans on the planning committee wanted everyone at the summit to leave more equipped to respond effectively to someone who is experiencing a mental health crisis or considering ending their life. Equally important, after attending, Veterans would be able to question stigma related to mental health and become more likely to consider reaching out for assistance when needed, knowing that mental health clinical care is but one important component in a person’s mental health recovery and that recovery is fostered in many ways.