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. (WJBF) — The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office has made multiple arrests in a deadly shooting that left one teenager dead and another injured early Saturday morning.
According to deputies, the incident happened June 20, at approximately 12:50 a.m. in the 200 block of Warren Road, where authorities responded to reports of shots fired involving two gunshot victims.
When deputies arrived, they located two 18-year-old men from Augusta.
Officials identified the victims as Eric Markquis Bartley Miller and Joseph Lamar Thomas.
Investigators say Miller sustained at least one gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Thomas was also found with at least one gunshot wound and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office says the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under active investigation.
As of Saturday afternoon, three teenage suspects have been arrested and charged in connection with the incident.
18-year-old Dmihjay Collins, 17-year-old Tayshaun Thomas, and 17-year-old Joseph Thomas have all been arrested and charged with Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of Machine Guns. They are all currently being held at the Webster Detention Center.
A fourth teenager, 17-year-old Reante Byrd was also arrested, but investigators have not linked him to the murder case. Byrd has been charged with Possession of a Pistol or Revolver by a Person Under the Age of 18. He is also being held in the Webster Detention Center.
No further details in the investigation have been released.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Students showcased drones they built during a two-week summer camp at Augusta Regional Airport on Friday.
12 junior and high school students attended the camp, where they learned to fly and build drones designed to help others.
Anderson Puryear, a student, said the camp focused on delivering small medical supplies.
“It was focused on delivering small medical supplies like an EPI pen or glucose packet for like diabetics and for people with allergies in need in the real world that could obviously help save lives, and if people are like in a place in a boat or like in the desert or in the forest where they can’t easily access those supplies it can save their lives,” Puryear said.
The airport partnered with Georgia Tech, state troopers and the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Department for the Air Edu Summer Camp.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The 10th annual Juneteenth Augusta Festival brought families to the Augusta Fairgrounds on Friday despite the muggy heat.
Cultural and community-focused events, live music performances and food trucks were available at the celebration.
Tonia Hill, attending the Juneteenth celebration, said she loves the holiday and is supporting the community, though she acknowledged the weather conditions.
“I love Juneteenth. And I’m supporting everybody. It’s hot. It’s hot. It’s hot,” Hill said.
The festival runs until 10 p.m.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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