Restoring Independence through Craft Therapy

In the month of July, we are reminded of why we celebrate independence and appreciate the freedoms that we have today, all because of those that fought for it back in 1776. Today veterans and active military continue to fight to protect our nation's independence.

Help Heal Veterans arts and craft kits create a different type of independence, but independence nonetheless. Veterans struggle with numerous challenges that war imposes on them: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), sensory-motor development, regression of cognitive skills, battles with communications skills both personal and interpersonal, in addition to many others.

Help Heal Veterans has invested in crafts because of the high success rate that they have in aiding illness, starting as far back as 100 years ago:

Amidst the Industrial Revolution in the early 1900's scholars determined that the correlation between factories and industrial machine work affected people's happiness levels. Around this same time, craft clubs became all the rage (a therapeutic outlet). Doctors Adolph Meyer and William Rush Dalton were the trailblazers for introducing therapeutic crafts into the treatment plans of patients that were bedridden. After collaboration with social workers, they created an entire career devoted to this line of work, which is now known as Occupational Therapy. By using the therapeutic craft techniques, the projects developed skills the patients already had and focused on honing in to strengthen these skills to get patients back into the workforce.

Doctors Adolph Meyer and William Rush Dalton's work provided a massive amount of research to sort through to conclude the benefits of craft therapy for disabled patients. The study initiated the beginnings of Help Heal Vets, they took this idea and used it to help the treatment of wounded veterans, and how they treat all veterans from the bedridden to the fully functional.

Craft therapy has been proven to be empowering, providing independence to veterans from the daily stressors that occurred as a result of their service. In addition to improving their self-image, confidence, and acceptance of past experiences, craft therapy also helps veterans loved ones feel more confident to trust that the veterans are instilling self-care in their daily life.

Domains we asked in our own survey that focused on success rates for veterans showed:

Overall quality of life & Family

1. Using the Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) Scale, the average response was 6.2/7, which is “Better, and a definite improvement that has made a worthwhile difference”

2. 80% of respondents said the kits helped improve their relationships with family and friends

3. 94% of respondents said the kits helped them have a more positive outlook on life

Physical/Pain

1. 90% of respondents that had pain said our kits helped relieve their pain. In addition, on average, their pain is decreased from a 7/10 to 4/10, or 43% reduction

2. Of those who had an physical injury/wound, 77% said our kits helped with their condition

3. 94% of respondents said the kits helped improve your ability to use your hands and

handle small objects easier.

Cognitive/Behavioral Health

1. 98% of respondents said the kits took their mind off of problems they had

2. 97% of respondents with behavioral health issues (PTSD, depression, anxiety) said the kits helped them feel better on average 7/10.

Traumatic Brain Injury

1. Of respondents with history of TBI, 75% of respondents said our kits helped them in any way (but question was not asked on specifics)

- “It makes me feel purpose. That I can still do something.”

- “Kits have helped me keep my mind occupied on one thing from start to finish. Even when I

can't finish a kit at one sitting, it gives me something to look forward to. The main thing is the

feeling of completing something. Joy and happiness.”

- “1st- helps make me concentrate and I read the instructions 2nd- my grandchildren helps me

so I get to spend time doing things with them”

- “Help me relax. For that time spend doing the kit have distracted me from my symptoms. To

me is therapy for my brain injury, ptsd, anxiety, depression. Very helpful.”

- “Using my hands and eyes gave my brain an exercise of sort. Which in turn helped with

whatever issue I was dealing with. A Larger variety of kits for the arts I think would have helped

more since those were the kits I gravitated to.”

We concluded that the leather kits help veterans regain manual dexterity from the intricacies of stringing that is required by many kits, like our moccasins and wallets. The painting kits have proven to be an outlet to improve mental calmness that scarred minds that struggle with PTSD face. The study also showed that suffers from TBI benefit most from the car, truck, and model kits.

Our kits develop independence through rehabilitation, restored coordination and motor skills, improved attention spans and concentration, relieving symptoms of depression, PTSD, and many others.

Help Heal Veterans works closely with clinicians to provide the right kit to suit the specific veteran's needs to maximize the benefit potential!