#veteran-mental-health

#veteran-mental-health

They survived some of the Afghanistan War's most grueling and treacherous missions, regularly battling the Taliban in nighttime raids and urban gun battles. But once evacuated to the U.S., many Afghan fighters who served in "Zero Units" led by the CIA found themselves spiraling into despair because of what they saw as bureaucratic neglect and abandonment by the U.S. government, a former CIA operative and a former Afghan fighter involved in the units told NPR.

For many former service members, riding isn't just recreation - it's therapy. It's a pressure release valve, and a way to reconnect with people who understand what they've been through. It gives them a sense of community and a physical outlet after they have given so much during their time serving. Perhaps more than anything for these riders, mountain biking has once again given them purpose.

When we think of Veterans Day, we often focus on the physical service for our country-the time, the family strain, the stress, the sacrifices. However, much of what veterans deal with occurs when they return home from duty and mental health and substance use issues surface. These are the scars that remain invisible, but ever present. According to the Boulder Crest Foundation, which treats veterans and educates about the topic of post-traumatic growth,