On October 5 at the Hubert Humphrey Building, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy discussed a new and highly effective evidence-based PTSD reduction technology with founding President of African PTSD Relief David Shapiro and Dr. Katie Grose, National Capital Area African PTSD Relief coordinator and teacher of Transcendental Meditation.
As part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) Charity Fair, Dr. Murthy, MD. MBA, addressed HHS administrators and employees and encouraged them to support a wide range of approved 501(C)(3) charities. Each year, the CFC coordinates a single fund raising drive organized by federal employees for federal employees that runs between September 1 and December 15. The Campaign inspires 4 million Federal Government workers to give to their chosen non-profits. Although there are many charity fairs in each Department, this was the main Charity Fair for the HHS this year.
The Surgeon General pointed out that over the past 3 years HHS has been the largest donor of any division of the government, donating over 5 million dollars each year. Over 8 billion dollars has been donated since the founding of CFC from all departments. This makes the CFC the largest workplace giving campaign in the world.
Dr. Murthy encouraged the giving to meet or exceed last years’ levels of giving. He and the head of the HHS CFC charity drive signed a large pledge card showing HHS department commitment to raise and donate at least 5 million this year to charities.
In addition, he explained that donating to non-profits allows individuals in need to receive support that they cannot provide for themselves and is also not provided by the Federal Government: He said that his family had been in a hurricane in Florida, and support from non-profits was a huge help to them and others around them when no other financial resources were available.
He also explained that giving to help others is “good for your health,” and he listed a number of health benefits to supporting others, including lowered blood pressure, less depression, and longer life.
Dr. Murthy encouraged the giving to meet or exceed last years’ levels of giving. He and the head of the HHS CFC charity drive signed a large pledge card showing HHS department commitment to raise and donate at least 5 million this year to charities.
In addition, he explained that donating to non-profits allows individuals in need to receive support that they cannot provide for themselves and is also not provided by the Federal Government: He said that his family had been in a hurricane in Florida, and support from non-profits was a huge help to them and others around them when no other financial resources were available.
He also explained that giving to help others is “good for your health,” and he listed a number of health benefits to supporting others, including lowered blood pressure, less depression, and longer life.
After his presentation, Surgeon General Murthy met with founding President David Shapiro and was told that 90% of Congolese war refugees with post-traumatic stress disorder,PTSD, became non-symptomatic within 30 days of learning Transcendental Meditation. Since the Surgeon General had already endorsed the San Francisco school quiet time project, which uses TM, he was interested in hearing more about TM’s role in PTSD reduction.