LEXINGTON, S.C. (AP) -- The central South Carolina chapter of the Blue Star Mothers is holding a panel discussion on helping family members and friends understand post-traumatic stress disorder and other veterans' issues.
The family support group will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the VFW Post 8738 in Lexington.
Representatives from the Dorn VA Hospital and other veterans groups will talk about how to recognize PTSD as well as the signs of traumatic brain injury. Steps for preventing potential suicides will also be discussed.
Military officials say more than 1,100 members killed themselves from 2005 to 2009, and suicides have been on the rise again this year given repeat Army and Marine Corps deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.
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