Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base Program 2010 Run to Home Base 9K

About the Home Base Program



 

The Home Base Program is a new philanthropic partnership between the Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital dedicated to improving the lives of New England servicemen and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with combat stress disorders and/or traumatic brain injury through clinical care, innovative research, education, family support and community outreach.

Thousands of soldiers returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan grapple with what some call “the invisible wounds of war” – combat stress disorders and/or traumatic brain injury. These disorders are complex and highly individualized. Families of veterans suffering from combat stress disorders and/or traumatic brain injury often need support and guidance as they seek ways to better understand and support their loved veteran.

According to the 2008 RAND Corporation study “The Invisible Wounds of War,” of the 1.64 million service members who have been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, nearly one in five currently suffers from depression or stress disorders, including combat stress disorders. In addition, nearly 20 percent of veterans who served in these ongoing conflicts experienced a concussion or other traumatic brain injury during their tours of duty.

Many veterans struggle with the stigma associated with these injuries and the so called “invisible wounds” caused by battlefield experiences. While anxiety and distress may not be as obvious as the physical wounds of war, the scars are just as painful and deep. Such injuries require attention and treatment by a team of providers who are familiar with and experienced in the complexities of combat stress disorders and traumatic brain injury.

Through a range of activities and events, the Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base Program will inform and educate the community about combat stress disorders and/or traumatic brain injury as we seek to help mitigate the stigma and encourage veterans and their families to get the support and care they deserve.

The Home Base Program will also support research of the complexities of combat stress disorders and/or traumatic brain injury with the goal of identifying better treatments. Since the number of professionals specifically trained to diagnose and treat these injuries is inadequate to handle the growing demand, the Home Base Program also will offer opportunities for health care professionals from across New England and beyond to increase their understanding of how to help veterans. Bringing together related efforts in clinical care, family support, education and research under a synergistic and cohesive program will advance the care and treatment of our veterans.
 

More information about the Home Base Program is available at:

www.homebaseprogram.org