On January 4, 2010,  the National Veterans Foundation (NVF) will extend the hours of its Lifeline for Vets™ to accommodate a growing number of Veterans who need help with crisis intervention and resource referrals.  The Lifeline provides assistance to current and former soldiers requiring mental health counseling, job referrals, legal assistance, VA claims assistance, and financial counseling, among other services. 

“We are seeing more and more Veterans home from Iraq and Afghanistan ending up jobless, homeless, fighting claims battles with the VA, suffering from PTSD, and in trouble with the law,” said NVF President and Founder Shad Meshad.  “The federal government has a responsibility to help these Vets adjust after sending them to war. They are just not doing enough.

“When President Obama announces a 30,000 troop surge to Afghanistan, it means that more soldiers will be sent for their third or fourth combat deployment. Men and women who have already volunteered, served, survived, and separated from the military can be recalled and sent back. These people are at great risk of coming home wounded, either physically or emotionally.

“We are seeing enormous fallout from the lack of transitional services for Vets who have returned home in the last couple of years.  We expect a flood of additional problems for Veterans, with the continuation and escalation of these conflicts.”

The new Lifeline for Vets™ hours will be from 6:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. (PST) Monday through Friday to provide improved service to East Coast Veterans during the week. The Lifeline will continue to operate 9:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M (PST) on weekends.  The Lifeline is staffed by trained Veterans with access to extensive resources and information to help Veterans in need.  The Lifeline’s toll-free number is 888-777-4443.

Shad Meshad is one of the nation’s leading experts on PTSD treatment.  A licensed therapist who began working with soldiers as a Psych Officer in the Vietnam War, Meshad founded the NVF in 1985 to provide crisis counseling and transitional resources to soldiers and Veterans.  The NVF has assisted over 350,000 Veterans. Its mission is to serve the crisis management, information and referral needs of all U.S. Veterans and their families.  Visit the NVF online at www.nvf.org or support the organization at www.help-veterans.org.