Upcoming Event: The A.S.A.P Seminar featuring Darcy Rideout and Reverend Ben

Untold Valor: Veterans Recovery in Action

We are honored to welcome Darcy Rideout back for today's episode. Alongside Reverend Ben, she's here to highlight an important event organized by Voice & Vision and CompeerCORPS on May 21st, 2024. The A.S.A.P. (Advocating Suicide Awareness & Prevention) Seminar will be a space where veterans, mental health professionals, and the community can unite to advocate for prevention strategies against veteran suicide.

Tune in as Darcy and Reverend Ben share the details and goals of this (completely free) event. We highly encourage anyone struggling or those who want to help to sign up and attend using the link below!

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

0:00 – Intro
1:54 – The ASAP event and details
5:41 – The goals of this event
8:04 – The power of reaching out and making connections
Darcel (Darcy) Rideout:

Darcel, an 11-year PA Army National Guard veteran and mental health advocate, now owns a graphic t-shirt company and is pursuing clinical psychology. She's also a board member of the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at the University of Pennsylvania.

Darcel was awarded two Army Achievement medals during service. Following a series of traumatic experiences during her service in the Army National Guard, she was diagnosed with PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Fortunately, she received no-cost mental health care through Cohen’s Veteran Network, which she credits with changing her life.

Now Darcel is an advisory board member at the Cohen Military Family Clinic as a Veteran Advocate. Since overcoming her challenges with mental health, Darcel shares her journey to reach others who are struggling with mental health.

Reverend Ben:

Benjamin, a southwest Philadelphia native and Navy veteran, served as a Hospital Corpsman during Desert Storm. He was deployed to Diego Garcia and Okinawa, and was attached to Fox Company in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Post-military, Ben worked in a men’s shelter, gaining diverse experiences in mental health and addiction recovery. While battling cancer, he earned an associate degree in biblical science from Lancaster Bible College. In 2019, he obtained a bachelor’s degree in human services and is pursuing a master’s in counseling, set to graduate in 2024.

Now Assistant Pastor and Outreach Coordinator at Philadelphia Baptist Church, he runs a food cupboard aiding 150-200 families weekly. With his wife, Marcia, they serve with the love of Christ, helping alleviate suffering in West Philly.
EPISODE LINKS

Register for the A.S.A.P Seminar

https://shorturl.at/ntRSX

Get in touch with Darcy

[email protected]
RESOURCES
Need immediate help? Contact the Veterans Crisis Line via phone, text or online chat. Dial 988 then Press 1 or text 838255 or use the online chat at https://bit.ly/3OunXzg
Voice & Vision: https://bit.ly/3miwFoy
CompeerCORPS: https://bit.ly/3GgKryU

Information on how to apply for VA Healthcare Benefits from anywhere in the USA: https://bit.ly/40PtrrN or call 877-222-8387 (M-F 8am-8pm EST)

To apply for veteran’s benefits and find resources in Pennsylvania veterans need to contact their County Office of Veterans Affairs as listed in this document: https://bit.ly/3m8PBWS

View more about PA’s resources for veterans: https://bit.ly/416cf0Q

Financial support for Untold Valor is provided by a Veterans’ Trust Fund grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.