Using Storytelling to Heal Trauma and Bridge the Cultural Divide Between Veterans and Civilians. Issue 8 (17th November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mamon, Daria; McDonald, Elise C.; Lambert, Jennifer F.; Cameron, Amy Y.
• Is Part Of: Journal of loss and trauma. Volume 22:Issue 8(2017)
• Page Start: 669
• Page End: 680
• Publication Date: 2017-11-17
• Subjects: Memorial Day -- military-civilian gap -- posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) -- reintegration -- storytelling -- veterans; Loss (Psychology) -- Periodicals; Adjustment (Psychology) -- Periodicals; Life change events -- Periodicals; Interpersonal relations -- Periodicals; 154.4
• DOI: 10.1080/15325024.2017.1382653
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1532-5024

Abstract

ABSTRACT: There is a growing disconnect between the Veteran and civilian communities related to their understanding of war-related trauma, postdeployment reintegration difficulty, and the experience of Memorial Day. A therapeutic way to bridge this divide is through community storytelling. This paper describes a program development project at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center that was created to increase the connection between these communities. Using storytelling, six Veterans shared their personal experiences with a civilian audience in honor of Memorial Day. Qualitative data on the impact of the program is reported, and suggestions for future application and research are discussed.