This video story by Alice Barlow. Web editing by Jasmine Buie.
At the Veterans Heat Factory, veterans have found a haven for healing. Florida has the third-largest veteran population in the nation.
Many of these veterans do not have access to the resources needed to aid the well-being of their mental health after serving in the U.S. military and experiencing repeated traumatic events. When there is no help available and they feel there is nowhere left to turn to, veterans sometimes turn to self-inflicted harm. Mission 22 states that each day 22 veterans take their own life. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the number of veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) differs by the time of service.
The fight to win the war against veteran suicide continues with The Veterans HEAT Factory paving a way in providing the necessary outlets veterans need to begin their healing process to enjoy a more joyful and stress-free life. The founder, Gus Guadagnino, felt the need to do more for our veterans after realizing the services available to them were not enough.
“After speaking to a few veterans six and 12 months after they graduated, I realized we cannot just assist them in lessening their trauma symptoms, and help them in improving their self-esteem, they need assistance in moving forward, to improve their lives,” Guadagnino said. “They currently have no support system that would reach out to them, no one to prepare them to move forward, and provide the path to do so. I had the thought that there are many private resources in our community that can provide these services to help a veteran.”
Guadagnino continued, “It is my strong belief that although our government was the one that sent our brave warriors into harm’s way, they did not go for the government, they went to defend every citizen of America, and now they need the American citizens to step up for them, our American Veterans.”
The Veterans HEAT Factory is continuing to achieve the goals that its founder, Guadagnino, envisioned. Veterans living with PTSD can begin to move forward serenely with the programs the Factory provides. The facility guides them through physical fitness programs, which are accompanied by weekly health and wellness education modules. They learn to manage their anger and anxiety, improve communication and relationships and explore their dreams and goals. Throughout, they are provided with techniques and resources on how to achieve those goals and make them a reality.
The stress-free outlets that the Veterans HEAT Factory is providing are essential in the PTSD recovery process. According to the American Psychological Association, these practices are called Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies (CBT) that help traumatized individuals understand and manage their anxiety and fear.
Numerous veterans do not get the help they need for PTSD. The Veterans HEAT Factory provides a free 20-week program for veterans, first responders, and their families with PTSD. Their program is an extensive, detailed, and worthwhile plan of action that will aid any veteran to a successful, peaceful, happy, and fulfilling life.
“Our Veterans have earned the best we can provide, regardless of their current circumstances. I have decided that the rest of my working life will be focused on helping those that have served for a better life for me and our country, our American Veterans,” said Guadagnino.
