On November 3, 40-60 executives and employees of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) attended presentations by charities from around the DC area as part of a Combined Federal Campaign Charity Fair, 77 K Street NE.
Founding President of African PTSD Relief David Shapiro, left, and Director of FRTIB Greg Long, right. To begin the meeting, the Director of FRTIB Greg Long explained that their agency’s job is to help federal employees plan so that they can live comfortably when they retire. He said that the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) gives an opportunity to help people who are not retired, such as the homeless, live happy comfortable lives before the retirement age.
The CFC is the single annual fund raising drive organized by and for federal government employees to allow them to donate to worthy causes.,
The CFC is the single annual fund raising drive organized by and for federal government employees to allow them to donate to worthy causes.,
Charities each had 5-10 minutes to explain their activities and show videos depicting how their charities made a big difference. Two non-profits that gave presentations are soup kitchens that provide housing and additional support for the homeless. One organization works with the military to set up housing for veterans attending military hospitals and their families on a longer-term basis. Another gives food to the hungry. One organization explained how they help pets in need.
African PTSD Relief showed a 3 minute documentary of one Congolese refugee, Esperance Ndonzi, telling her story of the murder of her father and husband, her sexual abuse and near-murder, and her 2-4 years of mental anguish from post-traumatic stress. She felt endless memories of these tortuous events plaguing her and she could not sleep. At age 30, she said that her life was over. Then she speaks again one week after learning Transcendental Meditation, full of joy, now sleeping well and so thankful that stresses are dropping off from these past horrors.
The founding President of African PTSD Relief, David Shapiro, then asked the crowd how many had had PTSD personally, had friends or family with PTSD, or worked in the military and knew people with PTSD. About one half of the audience raised their hands. David explained that PTSD is not just a military problem, but that any horrible traumatic event may give rise to post-traumatic stress. Any violence, sexual abuse, or even natural disaster may produce PTSD.
He said that there were 22 military suicides per day, over 8000 per year, from PTSD. Many military become homeless from an inability to function in society with their mental challenges. Many resort to self-medication with alcohol and drugs to hide from the anguish. The US police, mostly a well-intentioned group who want to serve and protect society, have high levels of post-traumatic stress from their profession: handling very stressful events. Although well-intentioned, a high number of police have PTSD and their judgement is clouded and they have killed a number of African Americans out of their own inner stress.
He said that there were 22 military suicides per day, over 8000 per year, from PTSD. Many military become homeless from an inability to function in society with their mental challenges. Many resort to self-medication with alcohol and drugs to hide from the anguish. The US police, mostly a well-intentioned group who want to serve and protect society, have high levels of post-traumatic stress from their profession: handling very stressful events. Although well-intentioned, a high number of police have PTSD and their judgement is clouded and they have killed a number of African Americans out of their own inner stress.
The need is great to provide rapid, evidence-based relief in the United States and across Africa.
David said that in 2011 he had been asked by a man who had worked in OMB, Office of Management and Budget, to do a study to test the effects of Transcendental Meditation on Africans with PTSD. He said that were currently no funds to test TM on Americans with PTSD. For only $8000 David conducted two studies, both later accepted in the peer-reviewed Journal of Traumatic Stress. The studies showed that within just 30 days of learning Transcendental Meditation, and with regular twice daily TM practice for 20 minutes each session, over 90% of Congolese war refugees become non-symptomatic.
David said that in 2011 he had been asked by a man who had worked in OMB, Office of Management and Budget, to do a study to test the effects of Transcendental Meditation on Africans with PTSD. He said that were currently no funds to test TM on Americans with PTSD. For only $8000 David conducted two studies, both later accepted in the peer-reviewed Journal of Traumatic Stress. The studies showed that within just 30 days of learning Transcendental Meditation, and with regular twice daily TM practice for 20 minutes each session, over 90% of Congolese war refugees become non-symptomatic.
Inspired by these results, David founded African PTSD Relief to bring support to the up to 100 million Africans suffering from debilitating PTSD.
He said that studies on South African students, war veterans, and prisoners had all been conducted employing this innovative new approach. In each case, within 1-3 months at least 50% of each group suffering with PTSD came out of PTSD. The process is easy to do, effortless and there are no negative side effects.
He said that the Journal of American Medical Association had published a meta-analysis (August 4, 2015) that showed that only one in three US Veterans with PTSD come out of PTSD with the top, most recommended methods of psychotherapy: prolonged exposure and cognitive processing.
David then explained that there are successful PTSD relief projects around the world: The Catholic Church has contracted to teach Transcendental Meditation to 1 million homeless children in 13 Latin American Countries. A Buddhist girls school teaches TM to its students. The San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago school systems are incorporating this health strategy in a number of their schools in especially violent and poor communities. African PTSD Relief supports TM teaching across Africa in war zones and in areas of great poverty and turbulence.
Here is something that for $25 can provide support for four months to help an African out of PTSD. For Fifty to one hundred dollars provides support for the first year.
African PTSD Relief is an opportunity to help those suffering from the after-effects of any traumatic event, to help them return to happy and productive lives rapidly and safely.
This is an opportunity to make a difference.
African PTSD Relief CFC donations # is 94568.
He said that studies on South African students, war veterans, and prisoners had all been conducted employing this innovative new approach. In each case, within 1-3 months at least 50% of each group suffering with PTSD came out of PTSD. The process is easy to do, effortless and there are no negative side effects.
He said that the Journal of American Medical Association had published a meta-analysis (August 4, 2015) that showed that only one in three US Veterans with PTSD come out of PTSD with the top, most recommended methods of psychotherapy: prolonged exposure and cognitive processing.
David then explained that there are successful PTSD relief projects around the world: The Catholic Church has contracted to teach Transcendental Meditation to 1 million homeless children in 13 Latin American Countries. A Buddhist girls school teaches TM to its students. The San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago school systems are incorporating this health strategy in a number of their schools in especially violent and poor communities. African PTSD Relief supports TM teaching across Africa in war zones and in areas of great poverty and turbulence.
Here is something that for $25 can provide support for four months to help an African out of PTSD. For Fifty to one hundred dollars provides support for the first year.
African PTSD Relief is an opportunity to help those suffering from the after-effects of any traumatic event, to help them return to happy and productive lives rapidly and safely.
This is an opportunity to make a difference.
African PTSD Relief CFC donations # is 94568.
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