{"id":4557,"date":"2025-12-23T03:10:22","date_gmt":"2025-12-23T03:10:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sawahsolutions.com\/range\/seasonal-depression-mission-roll-call-helps-veterans-overcome-holiday-anxiety\/"},"modified":"2025-12-23T03:10:23","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T03:10:23","slug":"seasonal-depression-mission-roll-call-helps-veterans-overcome-holiday-anxiety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sawahsolutions.com\/range\/seasonal-depression-mission-roll-call-helps-veterans-overcome-holiday-anxiety\/","title":{"rendered":"Seasonal Depression: Mission Roll Call Helps Veterans Overcome Holiday Anxiety"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

For many people, the holidays can be a stressful time, but particularly for veterans, the period from Thanksgiving to New Year\u2019s Day can bring about depression, loneliness, anxiety, and isolation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But there are places veterans can turn to for help. Jim Whaley is the CEO of Mission Roll Call, a nonprofit organization that advocates for veterans through research, polling, and first-person storytelling. Roll Call also provides various resources and opportunities for veterans to connect with other organizations.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Whaley, a retired lieutenant colonel, spent 20 years in the Army, which included deployments overseas and holidays spent away from his family back in the U.S. He had to rely on his military family, many of them going through the same circumstances, to ease the pain of loneliness and separation. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\n

According to a recent nationwide survey by Mission Roll Call, 43 percent of veterans experience severe increases in PTSD during the holidays. Mental health challenges often lead to a spike in suicides during the season.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

To help veterans kick holiday blues, Whaley said it\u2019s vital for them to know there are outlets like Mission Roll Call that can help. The organization, which includes more than 1.3 million veterans and active-duty members, doesn\u2019t minimize the effects of holiday stress but shows veterans ways to manage it. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/article>
Lt. Col. Jim Whaley served in several aviation roles in the Army, retiring after 20 years of service. (Photo from Jim Whaley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n

\u201cReach out to a fellow veteran, reach out to a friend,\u201d Whaley told Military.com. \u201cIf you\u2019re thinking about somebody, get involved. We share a number of veteran support organizations you can plug into in your area.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Whaley, who became a master aviator in the Army before working in public affairs at West Point Military Academy, believes experiences tend to become \u201camplified\u201d in the military, and some veterans struggle to adjust to their new climates after serving.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cLife speeds up in the sense that when things are good, they\u2019re really good, and when things are bad, they\u2019re really bad,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s a heightened sense of emotion. When you\u2019re in an organization, you\u2019re with a group of people, and so even if you\u2019re overseas during the holidays, they\u2019re all in the same boat, so they kind of take care of each other. But when you\u2019re separated from the service, it\u2019s very difficult because you don\u2019t have that anymore, and sometimes when you go back to your hometown, all your friends have left. Or you go into a new community, and you really don\u2019t have that network anymore.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Financial Burden During Holidays\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Financial challenges can also lead to mental health anguish during the holidays. Whaley said 1 in 5 veterans have food insecurity issues. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI use that term \u2018food insecurity,\u2019 but actually that\u2019s financial insecurity,\u201d Whaley said. \u201cIf you can\u2019t buy food, it\u2019s because you don\u2019t have money.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Most people enter the military knowing they\u2019re not going to strike it rich. Rather, they serve for various reasons, such as earning money for college and civic pride. But when many veterans leave the military, they don\u2019t have a sizable nest egg of savings to fall back on. If they find themselves in a financial rut, their fortunes can quickly turn poor. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cOne in five with food insecurity \u2013 that\u2019s pretty alarming,\u201d Whaley said. \u201cI think most Americans feel that is something that needs to be fixed. We shouldn’t have one in four veterans struggling to find food or not knowing where their next meal is going to be.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Veterans struggling with civilian employment often bounce from job to job, trying to find the right fit. They\u2019re attempting to rekindle that sense of purpose and camaraderie they enjoyed in the military. Others, suffering from mental health challenges, often clash with superiors and either get fired or quit, leading to more frustration.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you\u2019re not doing well at your job, and you lose your job, you\u2019re losing those valuable resources that can help you pull through,\u201d Whaley said. \u201cIn many cases, you\u2019re told to take the first job that you can get, and it\u2019s not the one you really<\/em> want, so you\u2019re not happy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/article>

Mission Roll Call CEO Jim Whaley speaks about veterans’ issues for a U.S. Senate panel. (Photo from Mission Roll Call)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

He said veterans struggle with transition because they\u2019re used to working on large, important missions, and civilian jobs often don\u2019t provide the same rush of energy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThey want to be part of something bigger than themselves, and that sometimes is the challenge during the transition process,\u201d Whaley said. \u201cThey\u2019re in a unit that\u2019s very important, and then they go to a job that they feel is not very important, or certainly not as high-speed as what they were doing in the military.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Roll Call lists about 85 non-profit organizations on its website that specifically look for veteran job candidates.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe actually urge veterans to go to another support organization and find their path,\u201d Whaley said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

While many veterans do well after the military, earning degrees, starting businesses, or serving their communities, Whaley said it\u2019s important not to forget those who are struggling.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWe\u2019re still leaving some brothers and sisters behind. We\u2019re not happy about that,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd we’re probably not going to be satisfied until there\u2019s no homeless, and no suicides.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

He believes that veterans struggling with life after the military is a national security issue.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you see veterans not doing well, not growing, not plugging back into their community, how likely are you as a father, mother, teacher, or coach to recommend the next generation to serve their country? We have to make sure veterans have the skills to flourish,\u201d Whaley said. \u201cEvery veteran, no matter where they\u2019re from, raised their right hand, took an oath, and were willing to die for this country. That alone should make the investment in their success pretty clear.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Suicides and Homelessness\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Mission Roll Call is also working to obtain a more accurate account of homeless veterans and suicide numbers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Each year, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Housing and Urban Development conduct a one-day tally to determine how many veterans are living on the streets. According to a census-style survey, last year\u2019s number was about 33,000. But Whaley said those numbers are somewhat skewed.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThat doesn’t take into account a lot of rural areas and misses a lot of people that they may not have seen,\u201d he said. \u201cIt also doesn\u2019t consider people who are, in some cases, living on a neighbor\u2019s couch or a friend\u2019s couch. And some states don\u2019t consider if you\u2019re living in a tent or a car as \u2018homeless.\u2019 I don\u2019t know about you, but if I\u2019m living in a tent, I\u2019m homeless.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Whaley said California \u2013 home to the largest population of homeless \u2013 doesn\u2019t participate in the annual survey.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s hard to fix the problem when you don\u2019t know the number you\u2019re dealing with,\u201d Whaley said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/article>

Jim Whaley salutes during a Memorial Day event. (Photo from Mission Roll Call)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mission Roll Call Works to Close the Gap\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Less than 1 percent of the U.S. population are veterans, so many Americans can\u2019t relate to their experiences. Whaley believes there\u2019s a large disconnect between the general populace and those who served.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWe\u2019re trying to make that connection through stories, through content development, through sharing our information and our research in a way that can help decision makers at every level make good decisions, and get bills passed that need to get passed,\u201d Whaley said about Mission Roll Call. \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Mission Roll Call polls veterans and family members, analyzes data, and shares it with local, state, and national politicians, the VA, and news outlets.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe try to educate them on what veterans and their families really want,\u201d Whaley said. \u201cWhat are their needs? Where are the issues that need to be addressed?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mission Roll Call strives to give straight, cogent data based on poll results and research.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWe\u2019re apolitical. We don\u2019t choose a side, we just listen to what veterans say,\u201d Whaley said. \u201cBut at the same time, we don\u2019t filter it. We don\u2019t say, \u2018Well, we think they meant this.\u2019\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Hearing about issues directly from veterans can be impactful and lead to positive changes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s empowering to let veterans know their voice matters,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Story Continues\n <\/p><\/div>\n

Read the full article here<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For many people, the holidays can be a stressful time, but particularly for veterans, the period from Thanksgiving to New Year\u2019s Day can bring about depression, loneliness, anxiety, and isolation.\u00a0 But there are places veterans can turn to for help. Jim Whaley is the CEO of Mission Roll Call, a nonprofit organization that advocates for<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4558,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/images05.military.com\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/full\/public\/2025-12\/whaley_1_.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4557","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-defense"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sawahsolutions.com\/range\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4557","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sawahsolutions.com\/range\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sawahsolutions.com\/range\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sawahsolutions.com\/range\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sawahsolutions.com\/range\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4557"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sawahsolutions.com\/range\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4557\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4559,"href":"https:\/\/sawahsolutions.com\/range\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4557\/revisions\/4559"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sawahsolutions.com\/range\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4558"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sawahsolutions.com\/range\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4557"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sawahsolutions.com\/range\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4557"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sawahsolutions.com\/range\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4557"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}