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VA Augusta aims to bring awareness to PTSD

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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.

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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.

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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.

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“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.

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Augusta, GA

Inmate recovering after being stabbed multiple times at Augusta jail

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Inmate recovering after being stabbed multiple times at Augusta jail


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – An Augusta inmate is now recovering after he was stabbed multiple times at the Charles B. Webster Detention Center last week, according to authorities.

Deputies say they responded to the jail on Jan. 22 and met with medial personnel at the jail.

Medical staff informed deputies that an inmate was stabbed multiple times in F Pod, according to the incident report.

Deputies say after the inmate was stabbed, his clothes, facility issued tablet and Store Call were stolen.

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According to the report, the inmate told deputies he is a part of local gang, and the person who stabbed him is part of another gang.

Deputies say they found nine stab wounds and lacerations on the inmate, including on his left arm, left shoulder and his head.

While searching the F Pod, deputies found a uniform top with blood on it under another inmates mattress. They also found the injured inmate’s jail wristband under the mattress.

During the search, deputies say they also found a six inch sharpened metal object that appeared to have blood on it.

According to the report, five inmates were involved in the incident.

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Officials say the inmate suffered non-life-threatening injuries and is now in stable condition.



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Augusta, GA

Augusta government provides update on HCD audit

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Augusta government provides update on HCD audit


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta officials say a preliminary response related to an audit of the Housing and Community Development Department was received Tuesday from Cherry Bekaert.

The audit report is not yet complete, according to the city.

After initial review, the city has requested additional information to “ensure clarity and accuracy before the process moves forward.”

“The Augusta government remains committed to transparency and will provide further updates once the requested information is received and the audit is finalized,” the city said in the news release.

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In November, Augusta Commission members held a budget workshop session with much discussion about the Housing and Community Development Department.

That’s the department that left the city on the hook to pay back millions in federal grant money.

The city received more than $6 million in grant money during the COVID-19 pandemic, supposedly to help people who were in danger of eviction.

The city never spent the money for that purpose, so the government demanded it back.

The department didn’t have the money on hand, so the city had to repay it, and then some, from the general fund — $6.3 million of the original grant money and $2.1 million in penalties.

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The scandal led to the exit of Housing and Community Director Hawthorne Welcher and sparked an audit of the department.

On Oct. 28, commissioners in closed executive session approved the payment of up to $32,237.32 from contingency funds for rental assistance previously approved by the Housing and Community Development Department.

This means leaders agreed to take the money from their emergency fund and use it to help people with their rent as part of a program the department had already put in place.

Mayor Garnett Johnson said at the time this was an effort to address letters that were sent out, falsely leading people to believe they were getting some emergency funds.

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Get medical care at several health events in Augusta

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Get medical care at several health events in Augusta


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Several health events in Augusta on Tuesday are offering help to those who need medical care.

Department of Public Health mobile clinic

The Department of Public Health mobile clinic will be at Christenberry Fieldhouse on Tuesday.

Officials say the clinic makes it easier to receive care for those who don’t have transportation.

The clinic will be at the 3109 Wrightsboro Road from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

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You can receive sports, work and school physicals, diabetes management, WIC referrals, vaccines and more.

The mobile clinic offers private exam rooms, wheelchair-accessible lifts and modern medical equipment.

For more information on the mobile clinic and what stops it will take, visit www.ecphd.com/wego.

Annual Horizon Truckers Clinic

The fourth annual health fair for bus and shuttle driver employees with Horizon Motor Coach will be held on Tuesday at Julian Smith Casino, 2200 Broad Street.

This event will start at 11 a.m.

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In partnership with the Augusta Lions Club, the Augusta University’s College of Nursing, Georgia Prevention Institute, College of Allied Health Sciences, the Dental College of Georgia and the Georgia Cancer Center make the event possible.

The health fair is designed to help prevent and identify health issues as well as providing mock DOT exams, dental examinations and nutrition advice.



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