SAN ANTONIO – A clinic opening in San Antonio on May 10 is one of the first of its kind, offering free mental health services to military families.
Family Endeavors is the organization opening the new Military Family Clinic.
Marine Corps veteran Christopher Vidaurre got out of the service last year.
"I joined in 2006. I went to Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2008 and then Operation Enduring Freedom in 2009," he said.
He spent a lot of time away from his family and had trouble readjusting when he came back.
"Main thing was with my daughters, trying to build that relationship, coming back to them and not feeling like I was being a part of their family. I was having mood swings, making small things a big deal. I had to swallow it. I needed to get some help," he said.
He got counseling at through the Department of Veterans Affairs, but said there was a wait because of the high volume of patients. That's something Family Endeavors CEO Travis Pearson said is common.
"We've been at war for about 14 years. And over 1.6 million soldiers have been in those arenas and about 40 percent have some kind of mental health issues," Pearson said.
That's why he decided to open a new Military Family Clinic where the longest wait is five days. It has the capacity to help between 500 and 600 clients a year. Pearson wants to bridge the gap so every military family member who needs help gets it.
"Being in the military and going to war, it doesn't just affect the veteran themselves, it affects the family," Vidaurre said.
A big part of the clinic is focused on helping kids. There's a play area, giving them a chance to do fun, interactive things while dealing with tough situations like mom or dad getting deployed.
The new facility has clinicians, psychologists, psychiatrists and outreach staff to help the families as a whole.
The goal of the facility is to reduce barriers keeping veterans from seeking help.
"It's no cost. We've placed ourselves close to the five ZIP codes with the highest population of veteran households. We're across the street from a bus stop. We also provide free child care for veterans getting services, and we also provide free transportation," Pearson said.
They will also offer life-skills classes, including marriage building, parenting classes, budgeting classes and things that can help reduce stress for someone struggling with mental health problems.
"It's like a hit on your ego saying you do need this help. But knowing this service is free and it's confidential, and it's not only for you but also your family, that's a big, big key," Vidaurre said.
Vidaurre is one of the two new outreach employees at the Military Family Clinic, using his personal experience to reach out to other veterans in need. He hopes other veterans will set aside their pride like he did and come to the clinic for help.
The Cohen Veterans Network provided all the funds to open five clinics like this around the nation. That's how Family Endeavors is able to offer services for free.
The center is located at 6363 De Zavala Road and the official opening is May 10.