| Veterans
News Flash 
Web Site Educates About Hiring War Vets
By KIMBERLY HEFLING, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - They survived war, but for some Iraq
and Afghanistan Veterans going to work back home
isn't easy, either.
An estimated 300,000 from the two wars have returned
home with mental health problems, so-called invisible
wounds, and about the same number suffered head
injuries, according to a private study from the
RAND Corp. think tank. Associated problems can
include depression, flashbacks, irritability, headaches
and short-term memory loss.
For those in the National Guard and Reserves,
returning to a civilian job at a workplace such
as a bank or firehouse can be difficult as they
make the transition back while trying to cope with
new issues. Also, some Veterans have complained
they can't find work after they leave the military
because employers are hesitant to hire them.
 Starting Wednesday, the Labor Department is making
available to current or potential employers resources
to help them better understand the mental health
issues Veterans may face. It
is rolling out a Web site, America's Heroes at
Work, and has created
a toll-free number, 800-526-7234, for employers
with questions.
One of the messages of the initiative is that
many of the Veterans' symptoms are either manageable
or will go away with time. Another message is that
small changes, such as scheduled rest breaks for
a veteran with a traumatic brain injury, can make
a big difference.
The effort was praised by Veterans groups, which
say a lingering stigma about Veterans and mental
health keeps some of them from getting jobs.
"Those injuries are something that can be
accommodated," said Ryan Kules, 27, an injured
Iraq veteran and former Army captain who coordinates
the "warrior-to-work" program at the
nonprofit Wounded Warrior Project.
Last year, a presidential
commission recommended that the Defense Department
and Veterans Affairs Department aggressively
work to prevent, diagnose and treat Veterans
with traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic
stress disorder — signature
wounds of the Iraq war.
Traumatic brain injury is a blow or penetrating
injury to the head that disrupts brain function.
Post-traumatic stress disorder is an anxiety disorder
that can develop in response to an extreme event.
One of the best ways
to help the vets "is
to help them return to full, productive lives through
work," said Labor Secretary Elaine Chao. "Employment
can also play a role in their recovery."
SOURCE:
Yahoo News
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