Time magazine today honored psychologist Barbara Van Dahlen, Ph.D., as one of its 100 most influential people in the world for 2012. Van Dahlen founded Give an Hour, a nonprofit organization that connects volunteer psychiatrists and other mental health professionals with current and former military personnel and their families for an hour of free therapy each week. Since 2005, Give an Hour has brought together over 6,100 providers with service members and their families.“The American Psychiatric Foundation is very proud to have been partners with Give an Hour for the past four years,” said Paul Burke, executive director of the foundation. “Barbara Van Dahlen richly deserves this recognition and honor.”
“Barbara has tenaciously attacked the epidemic of posttraumatic stress disorder, helping break through the stigma that prevents many from seeking help,” wrote former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. (ret) Mike Mullen, in Time. “She has served thousands nobly and has been an extraordinary example for all of us in her life and her giving.”
For more information about Van Dahlen and Give an Hour, see Psychiatric News here and here.
(Image: Give an Hour)