FYI: Beekeeping Therapy for U.S. Veterans

From: "CIBA MEMBERS" <donotreply@PROTECTED>

Date: February 12th 2021

https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/84440/veterans-use-beekeeping-to-improve-well-being/?utm_source=VRfeatures&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=VetResources

Below is an excerpt from the above link to an article from the U.S. Dept. Veterans Affairs Blog

After you read the excerpt, take a look at the full article.

Shared by one of our Veteran Beekeepers 😃

Veterans use beekeeping to improve well being

VA beekeeping program

Valerie Carter, a recreational therapist at the Manchester VA Medical Center, started a beekeeping program two years ago. She knew a Veteran’s wife who was a beekeeper and said that her initial motivation was to find a therapeutic outlet for Veterans.

Carter arranged for installation of two beehives onsite, using a grant through the VA FARMS program. In 2019, she had a dozen Veterans in the program who went in weekly to extract honey. Even though COVID-19 stopped in-person meetings in 2020, she continued the program over VA Video Connect.

Veterans told her that they had improved social connections, along with decreases in post-traumatic stress and depression. One Veteran said he worked with his VA team to reduce mental health medications and visits to his therapist.

According to Carter, the COVID-19 pandemic definitely put a strain on the 2020 program because Veterans weren’t physically at the medical center. However, she noticed Veterans still held each other accountable over the VA Video Connect calls. When Veterans asked about another Veteran who missed a session, Carter opened up a second session.