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“Home Base provided an environment where “I was blown away by the Home Base concept,
December 1, 2023 11:30 am Arthrex One
|
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Join emcee and WINK News Anchor, Corey Lazar,
for an event supporting life-changing resources for
those with mental illnesses featuring keynote speaker,
Mariel Hemingway, Oscar-nominated actress, mental
health advocate and granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway.
At NAMI Collier our motto is to let hope shine
and our participants embody that spirit everyday.
NAMI Collier is a place where people find hope
through support, companionship, learning
opportunities, compassion and connection.
Mariel Hemingway, Keynote Speaker
For tickets and sponsorship opportunities,
scan or visit NAMICollier.org
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we could be vulnerable to let it all out, and then program, and their future plans. We want to make
provided us with the tools to cope and heal in a HomeBase.org/Florida sure that our Veterans come back to Florida and can
healthy way. Home Base taught me how to live a be successful and thrive.”
fulfilled life with my trauma and gave me the skills ~Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo
to restore the most important part of my life - my
family."
~Retired US Army Veteran Matthew Loebs and Home
Base Florida program participant
Home Base Florida Brings Community Together to Heal Through their flagship Warrior Health and Fitness program,
the Invisible Wounds of Veterans and Military Families Beyond Veterans and their family members receive a comprehensive, free 90-
Veterans Day day experience. Through one-on-one sessions with certified personal
Veterans Day honors those who chose to defend and protect our trainers and dietitians, the program focuses on fostering physical
great nation. For most military servicemen and women, feelings of fitness, improving overall well-being, and establishing healthy lifestyle
habits.
pride and accomplishment are as clear, strong and tangible as the
fabric of their uniforms and the values they represent. For many, Despite the success of its programs, Veterans are taking their own
however, recurrent memories of the trauma of war and terrorism lives at a troubling rate. Since 2010, more than 65,000 Veterans have
negatively impact the daily life of the Veteran. Those experiencing died by suicide. Suicides among post-9/11 Veterans are four times
Post-Traumatic Stress, relive their memories during troubling as high as combat deaths. Each year, more than 6,000 U.S. Veterans
nightmares or through responses to triggers. Others suffer from take their own lives, including more than 500 in Florida. With suicide
rates among Veterans climbing, Home Base leadership knew more
depression, anxiety and traumatic brain injury. Some cope with these
symptoms through substance use and isolation. All of this negatively needed to be done to expand clinical care to Florida.
impacts the entire family of the Veteran when they return home. Retired USA Army General Fred Franks and Home Base Florida
“Our military servicemen and women defend our country to give Honorary Director said, “As Home Base Florida grew our fundraising
all of us the ability to live in a nation that honors our individual and capabilities, we were able to launch outpatient behavioral health
group rights,” states Marine Corps Veteran and Home Base Florida care in Lee County in 2019 and in Collier County in 2022 giving
Senior Director Armando R. Hernandez. “While we celebrate Veterans access to clinical care right here at home. This fulfills the
Veterans Day, we should remember that there is a price for that trust that we will be there for them when they return home.”
State Funding Expands Care and Launches Traumatic Brain
freedom."
Those in the military solemnly swore to support and protect our Injury Services
country against all enemies and at all costs. Thanking our Veterans Now, through a $1.5 million investment by the Florida legislature
for their service on Veterans Day has become a civilian’s opportunity awarded in 2023, Home Base Florida will continue to expand its
to offer respect and appreciation for our military – but more needs to programs locally and serve more Veterans from across the state. The
be done beyond this special day to help them heal from the invisible additional funding will support outpatient clinical services, Warrior
wounds of war. Health and Fitness, education/training, and launch traumatic brain
Florida has the third largest Veteran population in the United injury services all at no cost to Veterans regardless of the era of service
States with more than 1.5 million Veterans. Life-changing stress or discharge status. This inclusive approach ensures that those who
from events on the battlefield can leave lasting personal changes served, and their loved ones have equal opportunity to receive the
necessitating specific and cutting-edge therapies. Over 108,000 care they deserve, fostering healing and well-being within the Veteran
Veterans reside in Southwest Florida and many lack access to the community.
high-quality, specialized clinical care they need to recover. Home Base Florida remains committed to its mission of healing
Home Base Florida Behavioral Health and Wellness Care the invisible wounds of war and supporting Veterans and their
The call for help was answered by Home Base, a leading non- families throughout their journey to recovery. Through comprehensive
profit organization dedicated to providing comprehensive care and and innovative programs, Home Base Florida aims to improve the
support to Veterans and their families. It was co-founded in Boston lives of those affected by military service-related trauma and promote
in 2009 by the Boston Red Sox and Massachusetts General Hospital. overall mental health and well-being. Today and into the future,
In 2014, Home Base expanded in Florida to offer Southwest Florida Home Base remains at the forefront of discovering new treatments to
Veterans and their families the tools needed to take control of ensure a brighter future for 21st century warriors and their families.
their physical health, rebuild the camaraderie lost in the transition With ongoing community support, Home Base Florida will
to civilian life, while providing a portal to the more complex care continue to make a lasting difference in the lives of those who have
available at Home Base in Boston. served.
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