About the Author
About the Author
Victor Montgomery, MAEd, CMAC, RAS
Connect with Vic: Email | Twitter
Victor Montgomery III is an expert in Crisis Intervention and Addiction Therapy. A Vietnam Era Marine Corps veteran, he has worked with countless veteran callers and their families through crisis hotlines and out-patient clinics. He has a Master of Arts in Education degree from the University of Phoenix in Phoenix , Arizona , Graduate Studies in Clinical Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (Summa cum Laude) from Vanguard University of Southern California in Costa Mesa, California, and received specialized training for Veteran Suicide Crisis Rescues. Vic is Certified and Registered Addiction Specialist (RAS) and Certified Master Addiction Counselor (CMAC).
Vic Montgomery has counseled men and women in crisis for over twenty years. He is an ordained minister and served in Chaplain services for 8 years. Mr. Montgomery resides with his family in upstate New York . He and his wife Diane also have children and grandchildren residing in California, Texas, Colorado and Oregon. Vic and Diane can be found camping and kayaking in the Adirondacks and the Finger Lake Region of Western Upstate New York.
Interview with the Author
Interview with the author...
Vic , what can you tell our audience is the most important message you hope readers will learn from Healing Suicidal Veterans?
- There is hope for healing. There is successful and complete recovery for war torn veterans coming home suffering from the emotional and psychological traumas experienced in war zones. The likes of PTSD, TBI, depression, anxiety, rage, anger, fear, and alcohol or other drug dependences are all serious but treatable conditions. A veteran is not alone in this personal battle. Thousands of troops and their families have turned their lives around after seeking help and guidance through these difficult times.
- There is growth. I believe there are always opportunities to grow during times of adversity bringing families and partners closer together.
- There is a purpose. Many times hardships result in a reevaluation of a person’s direction in life. It is often during these hard times that the meaning and purpose of life becomes important, maybe more than ever before.
- There is encouragement. At every turn of the page I attempt to offer encouragement and motivation. You can do this and I will show you how.
A Message from Vic
A Message from Vic...
Reports suggest that up to 30% of veterans deployed back to their families from the war zones have ongoing psychological and physiological difficulties following exposure to combat. 1 Million 700,000 troops have served in Iraq and/or Afghanistan. That would mean approximately 510,000 military veterans deployed home have had extremely distressing experiences that cause severe emotional shock and mental trauma. You or someone close to you may be one of these warriors!
In my book, Healing Suicidal Veterans I have conveyed the message and the facts that having symptoms after a traumatic event is not a sign of personal weakness. Many psychologically well-adjusted, competent, robust, rugged and physically healthy veterans develop PTSD. More likely than not everyone would develop post-traumatic stress if they were exposed to severe enough traumas. Veterans who react to war traumas are not going insane. In fact, most cases are treatable.
By recognizing the effects of PTSD , TBI, and Depression, and knowing more about their symptoms, a combat warrior is better able to decide about getting treatment. Suicidal thoughts can be troubling, especially when accompanied by depression, other mental health conditions, and alcohol or other drug abuse. This situation demands immediate attention.
Write Me
Write Me
The increasing number of suicides among our nation’s military veterans is unacceptable. We simply are not doing enough to protect and support them.
The time has never been more urgent. I do know hiding our heads in the sand and allowing our Veteran Affairs and Department of Defense leadership and elected government representatives to duck and deny the surging concerns surrounding the tragedy of increasing numbers of veteran suicides is not the answer. And I believe serious actions need to take place to help prevent the increasing numbers of veteran self inflicted fatalities.
Write to me. Let me know how you feel about our struggling vets. Do you know a vet close to you that is depressed, isolating, or threatening to end his or her own life?... If this is the case please call for immediate VA help and crisis intervention 1-800-273-8255 press 1 for veterans.
If the situaton you are concerned about does not appear to be an emergency or urgent, but you are seeking more information about what you can do to help someone you care about... e-mail me or complete the comments section on the message center on the right side on this page and I will send along some free personal advice and coaching.
Comments to the Message Center
Comments to the Message Center
The increasing number of suicides among our nation’s military veterans is unacceptable. We simply are not doing enough to protect and support them.
The time has never been more urgent. I do know hiding our heads in the sand and allowing our Veteran Affairs and Department of Defense leadership and elected government representatives to duck and deny the surging concerns surrounding the tragedy of increasing numbers of veteran suicides is not the answer. And I believe serious actions need to take place to help prevent the increasing numbers of veteran self inflicted fatalities.
Write to me. Let me know how you feel about our struggling vets. Do you know a vet close to you that is depressed, isolating, or threatening to end his or her own life?... If this is the case please call for immediate VA help and crisis intervention 1-800-273-8255 press 1 for veterans.
If the situaton you are concerned about does not appear to be an emergency or urgent, but you are seeking more information about what you can do to help someone you care about... This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or complete the form at this link, and I will send along some free personal advice and coaching.
Contact Me
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Victor Montgomery, MAEd, CMAC, RAS
United States
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | Twitter
