The Shepard Broad Law Center hosted a symposium entitled “Wounds of War: Meeting the needs of active-duty military personnel and veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.” Feb. 1 in the Alfred and Rose Miniaci Performing Arts Center.
The symposium featured an interdisciplinary panel, in which psychologists, lawyers and veterans discussed the struggles our servicemen and women face when adapting to everyday life after returning from service.
The Shepard Broad Law Center began its tradition of holding an annual symposium last year. Michael Dale, professor of law, was in charge of the first symposium, which centered around child advocacy. Kathy Cerminara, also a professor of law, was this year’s chair.
According to Cerminara, planning for this symposium began last spring. The topic of post-traumatic stress disorder was suggested because of the new Veterans Law Clinic that will soon open on NSU’s east campus in Fort Lauderdale, along with the increasing growth of veteran students.
PTSD affects the veteran community on a large scale, as it negatively impacts a person’s social, emotional and mental life, frequently leading to depression and anxiety. According to Dan Reidenberg, executive director of Suicide Awareness Voices of Education and a speaker at the symposium, an average of 18 veterans commit suicide each day.
“Imagine the worst headache you’ve had in your entire life and multiply that headache by a thousand times,” said Reidenberg. “Now, imagine someone comes up to you and someone has a jackhammer and says, ‘I’m going to pound it on your head for the next hour,’ and multiply that by a thousand times more.”
Veterans try a variety of techniques to overcome their PTSD symptoms.
Carlo Gallucio, technical sergeant for the Air Force Reserve, said, “This is how I fight the anxiety attacks: I do a lot of yard word and take things apart and rebuild. You just have to keep your mind busy.”
Jennifer Jarema, director of communications at the Shepard Broad Law Center, said, of the symposium, “It’s just a really great for people in the local area to find out more about what’s affecting people in their community.”
Saamia Shaikh, senior biology, said, “One of the significant things that I learned from the symposium was that returning veterans with PTSD is really a big issue, and it’s becoming a larger problem as more and more troops are being sent home, and there are not enough health care professionals to adequately assist them. “
Natasha Shaikh, a second-year law student and Saamia’s twin sister, said, “From a legal stand point, I learned that not enough is being done. The government should step in and set forth laws helping our veterans to make their process of coming back home easier. It really touched me that everyone was so eager to provide help to the veterans. For instance, a mental healthcare provider from the department of veteran affairs was asking the panel how the VA can improve to provide more effective healthcare.”
Jarema revealed that preparations for next year’s symposium have already begun.
“I believe it’s going to be something in partnership with our oceanographic center, such as environmental law,” she said.
