US: Military leaders to promote meditation at 'Iowa Summit' to help reduce veteran suicide epidemic - October 11, 2012

Operation Warrior Wellness
A David Lynch Foundation national initiative
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9 October 2012

US Department of Veterans Affairs funds studies on PTSD
Iowa Summit to showcase benefits

Thursday, October 11, 2012
West Des Moines, Iowa, USA
America's veterans and their families are turning to meditation to ease the trauma of combat and pave the way to a healthier life.

The David Lynch Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity founded by iconic filmmaker David Lynch to bring Transcendental Meditation to at-risk populations, will hold an Iowa Veterans Summit, Thursday, October 11, 2012 at the West Des Moines Marriott in Iowa, USA.

The Summit will present the research and clinical applications of Transcendental Meditation for reducing stress, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, suicide, and depression and enhancing resilience and performance.

The Iowa Summit announcement by Operation Warrior Wellness, a national initiative of the David Lynch Foundation, notes the following facts:
∙ Eighteen veterans commit suicide every day—a horrific consequence of PTSD.

∙ More veterans die by suicide every year than are killed annually in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Washington Post reported in May that the US Department of Veterans Affairs, seeking new ways to treat PTSD, is studying the use of Transcendental Meditation to help returning veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Thousands of veterans have learned Transcendental Meditation. Research on veterans who meditate has shown that the technique not only reduces the psychosocial symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression, but also balances serotonin and norepinephrine, and regulates the sympathetic nervous system. Transcendental Meditation is used on the oldest private military campus in the United States, Norwich University.

Panelists include:

∙ Dr. Richard W. Schneider, USCGR (Ret.), President, Norwich University
∙ Jerry Yellin, World War II P-51 Fighter Pilot and National Co-Chair, Operation Warrior Wellness
∙ COL Brian Rees, M.D., Command Surgeon, 63rd Regional Support Command
∙ Luke Jensen, Operation Enduring Freedom veteran and Operation Warrior Wellness–Iowa Advisory Board member.

All panelists have extensive experience in using Transcendental Meditation.        

Bob Roth, Executive Director of the David Lynch Foundation, stated, ''It is imperative that we help veterans and the brave men and women still on active duty deal with the stress that stays with them long after they have returned home. Transcendental Meditation is a wonderful tool that can help them overcome the stress and anxiety from the theater of war, allowing them to lead healthier, more resilient lives.''

Todd M. Jacobus, Chair of the Iowa Commission of Veteran Affairs, also stated, ''Reducing the number of suicides among our Army personnel and veterans today is a top priority of the Army community. Commanders and leaders at all levels of our U.S. Armed Forces are making efforts to remain engaged in the lives of our soldiers in order to be responsive to their needs and issues, and to get them help. However, these efforts can't succeed without the involvement of the greater community, including programs like Operation Warrior Wellness, and the Resilient Warrior Program.''

Presentations will highlight program outcomes for active-duty military personnel, veterans, cadets, and their families. Those invited include military and departments of Veterans Affairs leadership, behavioral health officers, mental health professionals caring for veterans and their families, policy makers, medical researchers, and educators.

Click here to view the event brochure.

Contact: Ken Chawkin
Telephone: +1 641-470-1314
Email: kchawkin@mum.edu

About The David Lynch Foundation

The David Lynch Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, was established in 2005 in the United States to fund the implementation of scientifically proven stress-reducing modalities including Transcendental Meditation, for at-risk populations such as underserved inner-city students; veterans with PTSD and their families; American Indians suffering from diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and high suicide rates; homeless men participating in reentry programs striving to overcome addictions; and incarcerated juveniles and adults. For more information, please visit www.davidlynchfoundation.org.

© Copyright 2012 David Lynch Foundation



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