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Military Matters: New Program To Help Local PTSD Sufferers

Story Published: Jun 27, 2012 at 6:17 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jun 27, 2012 at 7:32 PM EDT

Thanks to a new program in the works at River Hospital in Alexandria Bay, Fort Drum's active duty soldiers and their families can get help healing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other unseen wounds close to home.

"We're told that there's a waiting list that's months long for these service people, that there's a vital need for this program. We'd be the only program like this in northern New York," said Ben Moore of River Hospital.

Renovations are already underway at the hospital's former administrative offices to house it.

The new River Community Wellness Program could be up and running by the end of the summer.

"We feel we have all the ingredients to put up a first class program and we're just anxious to get started," said Moore.

To start, ten Fort Drum soldiers will have group therapy, individual therapy and art therapy in half- day sessions five days a week.

"This will be a tremendous advantage and a big bridge in between the in patient environment and the complete outpatient environment. So we're going to set these soldiers up for success and then hopefully in the future we're going to set our community members up for success as well," said Dr. Troy Johnson, River Hospital's emergency department director.

"It's a way for the community to actually give back to Fort Drum and the sacrifices the soldiers have made," said Major Brad Frey (Ret.), program director for the wellness program.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
, Watertown, NY

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