SGU Mental Health Wellness Program
Image from CBS 60 Minutes.
When the SGU veterans and their families first arrived in Minnesota in the late 1970s, the war traumas and the tragic experiences following the aftermath of the war came with them.
Loss of loved ones
Wounded soldiers and civilians
Displaced
Painful war memories
Women and girls were raped, some were killed, by Thai pirates
As newly arrived refugees to Minnesota, the SGU soldiers families and their families faced and continue to face serious challenges.
Language barriers. Initially outside family life; later across generations in the family
Loss of status: men held important positions in Laos, now in MN, they in low skilled occupations; some were unable to provide for their families
Discrimination
Depression
Cases of our veterans committed suicide by hanging themselves.
Isolation
The purpose of this program is to:
Better understand the unique mental health needs of the Hmong veterans, widows of veterans, and descendants.
Identify and design culturally appropriate mental health interventions to address the unique needs; and
To provide the mental health interventions that are most appropriate for Hmong veterans of the Vietnam War Era.
__________
“The Hmong people suffered significant losses before taking refuge in the U.S. For those who came to the U.S., once they arrived, their trauma only worsened. The U.S. Government enacted the Scattering Policy to purposefully separate Hmong families across the nation to speed up assimilation. Time would show that separating a highly communal and collectivistic community who heavily relies on clan system support would be detrimental.”
— Dr. Talee Vang, PsyD, LP
Testimony at the MN Senate
March 2023
