Augusta, GA
VA Augusta aims to bring awareness to PTSD
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – June is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month, and VA Augusta is working to break the stigma around seeking help.
PTSD is often an invisible wound that can affect veterans and even their loved ones.
Experts at VA Augusta are working to bring awareness to the issue and provide hope to veterans struggling.
According to the National Center for PTSD, the disorder is more common in veterans than civilians.
Dr. J. Richard Monroe, a clinical psychologist at VA Augusta, says the problem isn’t knowing how to treat PTSD, but rather encouraging individuals to seek help.
He also says it requires focused treatment.
“We have resources across the spectrum of care from self-directed, maybe an app that might help someone deal with stress, all the way to intensive weekly appointments for outpatient therapy. There’s exciting research that shows that daily visits even get to the same outcome just a little faster,” said Monroe.
Will Martin is a veteran who served in the Army for 21 years.
Martin says individuals in the military are trained to keep their heads down and complete a mission, focusing on their emotions last.
He knew it was time to take action when PTSD began to seriously affect his personal life.
“It kind of spilled over to my relationships are negatively impacting that I wasn’t very good at communicating what I needed, or, you know, what I was really feeling,” said Martin.
Martin says the PTSD Program was able to help him tap into his trauma and begin to recover.
“It doesn’t eliminate it, but what it does is it gives you the wisdom and knowledge and tools and figure out how to navigate it and not let it negatively impact your life,” said Martin.
Martin’s personal success with the program encouraged him to break the stigma surrounding military members seeking mental help.
“I grew up in a very blue-collar environment and military environment where if you went to go see a shrink, quote, unquote, that was a sign of weakness and a waste of time and money. And I experienced the exact opposite of that,” said Martin.
According to Monroe, combat is one of the main triggers of PTSD, but not the only one. Nearly 80% of individuals experience trauma in their life, and 7%-10% will develop PTSD.
Veterans interested in treatment should ask for a referral from their VA primary care or mental health provider.
If necessary, they can also self-refer for same-day care by visiting the VA Augusta Mental Health Walk-In Clinic located at 1 Freedom Way.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
Peach Belt tournament: Augusta misses out for the first time in Metress era
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The 2025-2026 Peach Belt Conference brackets are set, and there is plenty of shakeup this year.
Starting with the women’s bracket, Augusta University secured the #4 overall seed and will face #5 seed Middle Georgia in round one.
USCA’s women’s team did not fair as well, finishing in last place of this season’s standings.
On the men’s side, USCA’s men’s team secured the eighth and final spot in the conference tournament.
In a shocking turn of events, AU’s men’s team did not qualify for the tournament.
This marks the first time the program has missed the PBC tournament since Dip Metress took over the program in 2004.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
Augusta Falls to Georgia Southwestern in Final Game of the Series – Augusta University
Augusta, Ga. – Augusta managed just five hits and one run and fell to Georgia Southwestern 12-1 Sunday as the Hurricanes win two of the three games of the series. The Jaguars are now 7-2 in Peach Belt Conference play and 11-8 overall. The Canes improve to 7-2 in conference play and 12-7 overall.
Georgia Southwestern scored runs in all but one inning including four runs in the first two innings and plated five runs in the fifth, highlighted by a grand slam.
The only Augusta run would come in the fourth inning. Landon Leonard would reach on an error and would come around when Kent Moon reached on a fielder’s choice that would plate Leonard.
Leonard, Moon, Davis Newman, Harris Bachelder and Jakob Cowart would collect the hits for the Jaguars.
Augusta will next be in action on Friday when the open up a three game series with Lander at Jaguar Field. First pitch on Friday is set for 6:00 p.m.
Fans of Jaguar Athletics can subscribe to the email listserve by clicking here. Fans can follow Augusta University at www.augustajags.com and receive short updates on Facebook at Augusta University Athletics and on Twitter at @AugustaJags.
Augusta, GA
Protestors in downtown Augusta speak out after strikes on Iran
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Local protestors made their voices heard after Israel and the U.S. announced strikes on Iran Saturday, ones that killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, reports say.
Protesters lined 13th Street in Downtown Augusta and walked across the river to North Augusta to make sure as many people as possible heard them.
50501 CSRA already had a march planned for Saturday, but in light of the strikes on Iran, decided to expand its focus.
Local leaders spoke about their concerns for the strikes, and roughly 60 people showed up to share theirs as well.
One of the event organizers said to make your voice heard your voice heard.
“Just call your people, call your representatives, if you don’t like that Iran was bombed, I don’t either. But call people and let them know, email them. Let it be relentless. Congress did not approve this. They have a say in this,” Zee Cook said.
The strike is being called “Operation Epic Fury,” with Iran responding with multiple missile and drone strikes across the Middle East.
In a social media post, President Trump said the bombing of the country will continue “as long as necessary.”
People across the world began lining the streets as well in support and against the decision.
Leaders across the world reacted to the news, including those in Georgia and South Carolina.
There’s a protest planned in Charleston and other regional cities this week.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
-
World4 days agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Massachusetts5 days agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Denver, CO5 days ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Louisiana1 week agoWildfire near Gum Swamp Road in Livingston Parish now under control; more than 200 acres burned
-
Technology1 week agoYouTube TV billing scam emails are hitting inboxes
-
Politics1 week agoOpenAI didn’t contact police despite employees flagging mass shooter’s concerning chatbot interactions: REPORT
-
Technology1 week agoStellantis is in a crisis of its own making
-
News1 week agoWorld reacts as US top court limits Trump’s tariff powers