A United States cannabis company has partnered with a peer-based mental health company to support veterans battling social isolation, anxiety, and depression.
Happy the Movement (Happy) on Monday announced a partnership with Chicago-based Green Thumb Industries to address veteran mental health.
According to the Watson Institute for International & Public Affairs at Brown University, more than four times as many U.S. service members (30,177) have died by suicide than in all post-9/11 war operations (7,052).
A Need for Mental Health Solutions
Happy says that new mental health solutions are needed now more than ever.
Cooperatively providing non-traditional approaches, Green Thumb and Happy will offer free and unlimited mental health support through the end of December.
As part of the partnership, Green Thumb will use its RISE and Essence retail outlets to provide veterans with employment and discounts year-round.
Green Thumb says it partnered with Happy to honor Veterans Day and support veterans by providing mental health resources.
Green Thumb Founder and CEO Ben Kovler says COVID-19 has amplified mental health problems in the United States.
“The U.S. is in the midst of a mental health crisis that has only been exacerbated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” says Kovler. “This is especially the case for our Veteran community, which often experiences higher rates of mental health problems and lacks access to adequate resources. In partnership with Happy, Green Thumb is committed to connecting Veterans with mental health support and actively facilitating efforts to reduce harmful stigmas around treatment and those who need it.”
Providing Support
Working with major insurers, hospital systems, and employers nationwide, Happy focuses on adopting basic mental health support and expanding access to it.
According to Happy, its proactive engagement model initiates contact with individuals struggling with mental health rather than waiting for them to reach out.
Happy says the process creates frictionless mental health by producing high engagement rates and reducing anxiety and depression.
Happy Director of Veteran Programming and former Special Forces Green Beret Commander Josh Theil says the military is committed to reducing stigmas with mental resilience care, though resources can be scarce and cultural change takes time.
“Military members often believe that support equals weakness, and that no one cares or understands them—we at Happy disagree,” says Thiel. “Happy is expanding our support network to help turn Veteran trauma into wisdom that helps Veterans excel, and, ultimately, maximize happiness.”
Because veterans face unique challenges in addition to life’s difficulties, Green Thumb and Happy say that they want to give hope to service members by providing free and anonymous mental support from compassionate listeners.
Veterans who would like to connect with one of Happy’s Support Givers can text “Vet” to 1-858-367-3001.
Happy will promptly respond to answer questions and set up a call time.
Veterans can also call 1-855-502-0420 at any time, day or night, seven days a week, to immediately connect with Happy’s Support Givers.
The confidential and anonymous call is free for all veterans and their families.
