Voices For Veterans

The St. Cloud V.A. is giving veterans options as to how they can get their flu shots this fall. Barry Venable, Public Affairs Officer from the St. Cloud V.A., joined me on WJON. He says the options for flu shots include those who have upcoming appointments at the V.A. they can just ask their doctor about getting one.

The St. Cloud V.A.'s is offering veterans the option of whole health. The Whole Health Director at the St. Cloud V.A. is Dr. Sean Omara. Omara has been in this position at the St. Cloud V.A. for the past year.

As of July 16th the Veterans Crisis Line and Suicide Prevention Line went to an additional phone number. Suicide Prevention Coordinator Jinae Plumhoff and Public Affairs Officer Barry Venable from the St. Cloud V.A. joined me on WJON for our Voices for Veterans program on WJON. Plumhoff says the additional line is "988".

The St. Cloud V.A. has a program called "move" which focuses on helping veterans with comprehensive lifestyle changes which includes nutrition, physical activity and behavioral changes.

A simple way to improve a person's health is walking. That according to Medical Director of Whole Health Dr. Sean Omara from the St. Cloud V.A. Dr. Omara says a new study done at the Washington D.C. Veterans Administration Center indicated the health benefits of walking.

The St. Cloud V.A. continues to highlight whole health. Dr. Sean Omara and Public Affairs Officer Barry Venable from the St. Cloud V.A. joined me on WJON today. Dr. Omara says a recent discovery indicates many health benefits for people when using a sauna.

September is Suicide Prevention Month and the St. Cloud V.A. Veterans Crisis Line is inviting people to to raise awareness about suicide prevention by distributing 1,000 VCL yard signs across Central Minnesota.

Alfonso S. Alarcon, MD was recently appointed as Director, Surgical and Specialty Care Integrated Clinical Community at the St. Cloud VA Health Care System. Dr. Alarcon and St. Cloud V.A. Public Affairs Officer Barry Venable joins me on WJON today.

The St. Cloud V.A. is hosting a community clergy training event June 24 from 1-3 p.m. to education local clergy about suicide prevention and moral injury. This is a virtual event and space is limited.

This month on WJON's Voices for Veterans segment I was joined by Barry Venable, Public Affairs Officer from the St. Cloud V.A. and Josh Goudge, Veteran Services Supervisor from the St. Cloud V.A. Barry says 70% of veterans enrolled at the St. Cloud V.A. have been vaccinated for Covid-19 including more than 90% of those 85 years of age and older.