Alone

Bob Herbert, writing in The New York Times, tells the story of 24-year-old Brian Adams, a veteran of the Iraq war, and the face of a new campaign from the Ad Council that is "trying to get troubled veterans to come in from the cold and piercingly lonely environment of post-wartime stress."

According to the AdCouncil's YouTube page, "The mental health consequences of combat threaten to overwhelm a new generation of veterans. There are 1.7 million men and women who have served, or are currently serving, in Iraq and Afghanistan. About 1 in 5 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are suffering from a mental health injury, ranging from depression to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), as a result of their service."

"This campaigns long-term objective is to decrease the depression and PTSD-related outcomes among returning Vets by taking a two-pronged approach encouraging Veterans to join other Veterans at the first ever online community exclusive to OIF/OEF Vets, and separately, to empower their Friends and Family by helping them learn how to start constructive conversations. The challenges facing returning vets are myriad but with support from other Veterans, family, and friends the issues can be effectively dealt with. "

A joint effort of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) and the Ad Council, Community of Veterans.org is designed as a resource to our nation’s newest Veterans. Comprising less than 1 percent of the population, Veterans face a myriad of challenges while feeling isolated and cut off from those to whom they can best relate – other Veterans.