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U.S. Veterans and Families Using Video Game as Psychological Therapy

Many U.S. veterans return home suffering from psychological post-deployment issues. Veterans aren't the only ones to suffer, however, as their family members are directly affected as well. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers multiple types of alternative therapies for veterans with disabilities and their families, and the newest offering is a video game, according to an article on WNYC.

Family of Heroes is an "online interactive role-playing" computer program, which is designed to help veterans and their families at the same time. Through the program veterans' families can learn how to communicate with veterans to seek help who are suffering from post-deployment problems.

The video game creates an online personification of a veteran. Playing the game takes about an hour, and highlights 3 families facing different situations. Participants watch conversations between veterans and either spouses or parents. They then replay the scenario, but the second time they take on a different role of a family member and play through different replies in an attempt to convince the veteran to seek mental health help.

Anybody can engage the veteran in the online game, which is something very different from the VA's standard face-to-face outreach efforts. The online simulation is very easy to access and the VA's newest tool in their fight against veterans with mental health problems due to their deployments. The more variety available to veterans and families, the more opportunity they have to find a therapy suited to their particular situation.

If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veterans disability rights firm today - 1-888-234-5758.