Ian Brickey: (202) 675-6270, ian.brickey@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, a group of nearly 30 groups including Sierra Club, Blue Star Families, and Y-USA launched the Military Outdoors Coalition. The new group aims to raise awareness of veterans health issues and collaborate on ways to expand veterans’ access to the outdoors for healing purposes. The Military Outdoors Coalition will collaborate on needed change, ensuring lasting improvements in veterans’ lives while simultaneously building a culture of trust, communication, and collaboration among the growing number of organizations dedicated to serving the veteran community.
The VA’s 2021 budget requested $10.2 billion to provide mental-health services for the seven million veterans enrolled for treatment, an increase of $683 million (7.1 percent) above 2020. Studies show recreation on public lands can be an effective adjunct therapy coupled with traditional health care, while ultimately reducing reliance on costly prescription medication. Research into the efficacy of outdoor recreation as therapy also shows significant improvements in mental and physical well-being, social function, and outlook on life and also indicates these programs may be especially beneficial to the veterans most in need of help.
Lt. Col. (ret.) Aaron Leonard, Senior Campaign Representative for Sierra Club Military Outdoors, released the following statement:
“Many veterans experience considerable challenges upon returning home from military service. Although they may leave no scars, some of the effects of war, such as traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress, can be equally or more devastating than a visible physical injury, making adjusting to life after service even harder.
“Studies have shown, and we have seen first-hand, that spending time in nature can help improve mental and physical health for veterans struggling with that adjustment.
“Working collectively will allow hundreds of organizations to speak with a unified voice and build the power we need to bring about systemic change and ensure the more than 19 million living veterans in the United States have opportunities to explore and heal in the outdoors.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.