Monday, May 27 2013 4:49 PM EDT2013-05-27 20:49:06 GMT
It's that time of year when swimming pool covers are coming off. With all of that swimming often comes a price of dry skin and hair. The owner of Heights of Health, Tracy Wakefield-Southwick,
It's that time of year when swimming pool covers are coming off. With all of that swimming often comes a price of dry skin and hair. The owner of Heights of Health, Tracy Wakefield-Southwick,
We were thrilled when we had the opportunity to make the announcement on air at FOX 26 that a diabetic alert dog could be a very real possibility for a local family in need. It all started with the dream of the owners of...
We were thrilled when we had the opportunity to make the announcement on air at FOX 26 that a diabetic alert dog could be a very real possibility for a local family in need. It all started with the dream of the owners of...
The 11th Annual Children at Risk Golf Classic, hosted by FOX 26 anchor Melissa Wilson, was a huge success! The event took place at The Woodlands Country Club on the tournament course.
The 11th Annual Children at Risk Golf Classic, hosted by FOX 26 anchor Melissa Wilson, was a huge success! The event took place at The Woodlands Country Club on the tournament course.
Houston's Michael E. Debakey VA Medical Center may soon be able to reach thousands more veterans fighting mental illness.
They're calling in reinforcements after seeing the demand for services skyrocket. The Houston VA anticipates hiring 40 new mental health clinicians and support staff as part of a nationwide funding boost.
One of the most sensitive parts of the problem is the stigma that comes with getting treatment. The Houston VA hopes by providing greater access veterans will be more likely to seek help.
Marine Sgt. Bryan Escobedo wasn't always so at peace painting in his southwest Houston home.
"9-11 happened, and I answered the call," he said.
He served three deployments in Iraq and earned a purple heart after his fourth IED attack. It was in an Iraq hospital when Escobedo realized his biggest wounds were invisible.
"I saw a poster with all the symptoms of PTSD, and I looked at. I had every one of the symptoms. That's when I found out I had PTSD. I found out from a poster," said Sgt. Escobedo.
He was honorably discharged only to return home depressed, angry and paranoid.
"For a long time when I was driving on the highway I always thought there were IEDs. Anything I saw I would swerve to get out of the way. I'd get horrible tension."
With a support system beside him, Escobedo sought treatment.
"The treatment works, but you have to provide it," said Dr. Laura Marsh, chief of mental health services at the Debakey VA Medical Center.
Dr. Marsh says the quality of care for veterans will improve with the staffing increase.
"What's exciting about this is it's calling attention to the mental health needs of veterans. That's a good thing because it's helping our society realize mental health care is critical," she said.
The news comes at the same time suicides among active duty U.S. troops are averaging nearly one a day this year. That's the fastest pace since the U.S. began a decade of war.
"Nobody should live that way. It steals your youth. It steals your life away. You're wasiting your life if you don't get help," said Sgt. Escobedo.
Sgt. Escobedo is now married, a full time student and runs a jobs program for veterans called Warrior For Life:
