Area Native Working to Help Veterans Reintegrate Into Society

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Published on December 13 2017 3:51 pm
Last Updated on December 13 2017 3:55 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

What can be done to help military veterans make an easier transition into everyday life? That was the question posed to Effingham Noon Rotarians at their meeting December 13.
 
(DR. BLAKE SCHROEDTER)
 
Dr. Blake Schroedter is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Rush University. Schroedter oversees the Road Home program for military veterans. The program is designed to help veterans better integrate back into society following their hitch. He is a Jasper County native and a U of I graduate. Locating his office in Effingham saves a veteran a trip to Danville or Marion to discuss their needs.
 
Schroedter said veterans are dealing with PTSD, substance abuse, anxiety disorders, unemployment and other issues.He'd like to help them address these issues.
 
He knows whereof he speaks; Schroedter served deployments to both Afghanistan and Iraq. He also received a Bronze Star and Golden Combat Spurs as well as the Army Commendation Medal for Valor and Combat Action Badge for multiple actions taken under enemy fire.
 
Among his points: he got home from Iraq, but went back to find a sense of purpose; how much is that a problem for other veterans...there is a need to identify positive statistics when it comes to returning veterans, for example they fare better in college than their non-military peers and they are more likely to be self-employed...and it's often more challenging to reintegrate into society than to be deployed.
 
Schroedter asked, "what do we do to help veterans reintegrate into society?" That led to offerings by many Rotarians about tough situations veterans they know faced, and the need to encourage veterans to share their experiences while deployed. One Rotarian told the story of a man who had never shared a traumatic experience he had experienced decades before. In tears as he related the story, the Rotarian said the man never shared the episode with his wife before her death, but finally shared it with his daughters shortly before his death.
 
Schroedter said we have to help veterans who are struggling to open up about those struggles so the healing can be made complete.
 
Blake Schroedter's office is housed in Heartland Human Services at 1200 North 4th in Effingham.