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By James H. Legge III, MSN, APRN-CNP, PMHNP, Certified Nurse Practitioner 
Psychiatric Center of Northwest Ohio 

The holiday months (mid-November to post-January) can be extremely difficult for loved ones suffering from mental illness. It’s postulated that family members and friends can reach intolerable levels of anxiety and depression during this time due to accentuated family dynamics, financial strain and other stressors.  

Veterans Day occurs at the beginning of this period and is a stark reminder of veteran suicide, in addition to the other mental health challenges that are experienced by this select group. While I was working on this topic with a local veterans’ services office, a book was brought to my attention called “Tribe,” authored by Sebastian Junger. This book stresses the importance of a strong interpersonal support network. One example discussed how Native American veterans, when reabsorbed back into their support network, experience significantly lower reported rates of mental illness-related problems. Instances such as this highlight the importance of support networks, demonstrating how we can help those suffering from the isolation of post-traumatic trauma. This thought process also helps better understand a true support network. (Continues)