KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — East Tennessee is home to more than 100,000 veterans and counselors at the Helen Ross McNabb Center said there is an increased need for help.
Memorial Day is meant to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country. However, Louis Danner, a masters level counselor at the McNabb Center, said this can be a very difficult day for veterans who are living.
"What that (Memorial Day) can do to veterans that have survived is possibly bring up some deep emotional things in them and, whether they have had somebody close to them die or not, just some of the moral injury that occurs sometimes in people were they have some survivor's guilt," Danner said.
At the center, Danner explained they work a lot with veterans suffering from trauma. He said even if the pain is not visible to the eye, many of our veterans are suffering on the inside.
"There is also trauma from being gone so long, being gone so many times, deploying on a moment's notice without as much time to prepare," he added.
At the Helen Ross McNabb Center there is help for you and your loved ones.
Free help is available to anyone who has served in the military and their family members. Members of all branches of services, regardless of discharge status and length of service are eligible.
"There are three counselors and we have all served in the military," Danner mentioned. "And so we have that connection right away that you can say things and not have to explain them maybe to somebody who does not understand those terms or understand what you have been through."
Danner said the need is so big in our area they had to hire that third counselor in the last couple of years.
This story is part of our Mental Health Monday series, where we raise awareness on issues millions of people face every day.