Student veterans find support during inaugural mental health conference

Arizona State University’s Pat Tillman Veterans Center reaffirmed its commitment to supporting student veterans by hosting an inaugural men’s mental health conference Friday, June 13, in the Memorial Union on ASU's Tempe campus.

As part of Men’s Health Month, “Operation: YOU, The Warrior Within” offered veterans powerful stories of resilience and insights on coping with trauma.   

Shawn Banzhaf, Pat Tillman Veterans Center executive director and Iraq war combat veteran, opened the conference with a heartfelt discussion about his own struggles with PTSD that led him to write “The Five Ls: A Practical Guide for Helping Loved Ones Heal After Trauma.”

Banzhaf coined the term “Five Ls" based on actions his wife took to help him navigate trauma, he said.

“I’ve been teaching thousands of people how to do this, because you don’t have to be a psychiatrist, or sociologist, or counselor, or therapist to help people walk through trauma,” said Banzhaf, former U.S. Army sergeant first class. “I lost one soldier to combat, just outside of Baghdad, but I’ve lost five buddies to suicide since we’ve been home.

“There’s something going on there that I want to change and want to have a positive effect.”

Banzhaf explained the Five Ls: Love, which everyone deserves; Listen, a “superpower” in guiding others through trauma; Learn, to understand their story and struggles; Lessen, by reducing exposure to triggers; and Lead, by helping bring order to internal chaos experienced by some.

Next, ASU alum, PhD holder and former Army medic Richard Southee presented insights from the book “The Many Faces of Trauma,” his research on homelessness and his work with Central Arizona Shelter Services, which supports some of the more than 9,400 members of the homeless population in Maricopa County, including approximately 450 veterans.

Southee discussed trauma-informed care and focusing on understanding how trauma affects individuals to create environments that support healing and recovery and prevent re-traumatization.

“Trauma-informed care is not about fixing people,” Southee said. “People who’ve experienced trauma are not broken; they can’t be fixed. They’re not meant to be fixed. They are people who have grown and gone through experiences and now are changed; they’re different from who they were before.

“But it’s about creating an environment where they can heal, where they can grow.”

One of the most powerful moments of the conference came during the resilience panel when ASU alums and Marine veterans Chris Cadeau, Jonattan Robles and Gary Schell shared their very personal stories of overcoming trauma.

Their candid conversation highlighted the many faces of trauma, the struggle and the perseverance to get past it to resume a normal life and thrive.

Chris Hammer, Paris Paralympics Games 2024 gold medalist in the paratriathlon, delivered the keynote address, discussing performance and mental health. Hammer is also a five-time NCAA All-American in cross country and track who grew up playing multiple sports despite being born without a left hand. He has a PhD in sport psychology and now works at ASU, where he pursues, among other things, projects “focused on optimizing performance and well-being through applied sport science and performance.”

“When you focus on performance, a lot of the times well-being and mental health come along for the ride as well,” Hammer said. “The skills, the habits, the mindset that help someone win on the field, win in the classroom, win in the boardroom, win on the battlefield — they are the same things that help you to navigate life’s challenges, build strong relationships and find meaning in adversity."

Hammer emphasized persistence, sharing how he narrowly missed medaling at the 2016 and 2021 Paralympic Games in Rio and Tokyo, coming in fourth, before finally winning gold in Paris in 2024.

“While pain may change you, it doesn’t have to break you; it can build you,” Hammer said. “That’s the power of post-traumatic growth.

“Whether you’re reaching for a dream or clawing your way through something that’s trying to tear you apart, know this, that you are stronger than you think. Not because you won’t fall, but because you’ll find a way to thrive.”

The Pat Tillman Veterans Center plans on organizing another men’s mental health conference next year, something they believe can benefit student veterans.

“It provides a space for veterans to be comfortable, to tell their story and to know they’re not alone in their journey, whether it’s a struggle or not,” said Michelle Loposky, director of development and strategic partnerships at the center.

The center supports over 23,000 military-connected learners, including veterans, active duty, National Guard, reserves and family members using Post 9/11 G.I. Bill benefits.