Great American – Women Trudy Jacobson
Trudy Jacobson Presents: Dasha Bunks, Ph.D. Candidate Aiming to Help Veterans.
Dasha has been working ferociously towards her Ph.D. to fulfill her destiny of helping the veteran community improve their mental health and prevent suicide.
America is filled with people who support the veteran community. Whether volunteering to lend a hand at a veteran event, donating to a nonprofit, or mailing packages to troops overseas, it is always honorable and welcomed.
But then, some people want to go the extra mile to dedicate their lives to helping the veteran community.
And that’s Dasha Bunks. Dasha is only one small step away from completing her clinical psychology program for her Ph.D. And she has zeroed in on one specialty – helping veterans with their mental health.
“From an early age, I was always fascinated with human behavior and psychology. But as I grew older, I started paying closer attention to how mental health is affected by combat within the veteran community,” Dasha said. “As I started to dig deeper, I was alarmed to learn that 22 veterans take their own lives every day… and that needs to change!”
Trudy’s Message
Trudy also has direct experience with veterans. As CEO of a large company, many of her employees were Vietnam veterans. That was one way she learned about post-traumatic stress.
“I spoke with countless employees who were in Vietnam. Many of them opened up about their experiences. But with others, I saw in their eyes that they didn’t want to talk about it. But all were affected in some way,” Trudy said. “That’s why I love Dasha, she is dedicated to helping veterans here at home.”
Dasha’s passion for helping veterans didn’t come out of nowhere. She has always had a soft spot for them and wants to do something about it.
“Over the years, I’ve had many friends and family serve in the military. And each one who has served overseas in a combat role comes back a different person. Some worse than others, and I want to do my part to help those struggling with their mental health,” Dasha said.
Service members who deploy to active combat zones are often faced with extreme situations. The constant threat of danger, watching your peers get injured or, worse, killed, seeing atrocities most people will never understand – all of that can wreak havoc on one’s mental health. It often leads to developing post-traumatic stress disorder.
“PTSD is common among veterans, and even first responders for that matter. But I also know that it is treatable. It can be improved, and suicide can be prevented. And that’s what I hope to accomplish,” Dasha said.
She understood this was going to be a long and arduous journey – but it was all worth it. Now she is picking up momentum with her Ph.D. program and hopes to not only help veterans but revolutionize treatment. “I completed my clinical hours at the VA in Lyons, New Jersey where I specialized in hospice patients. That was really tough. However, I received an award for my work with one of the veterans using music and art therapy to stimulate certain brain regions in hospice patients and they responded really well. I hope to build on that in the near future,” Dasha said, who also extended her gratitude to the veteran community. “They have sacrificed so much for our freedom and our country already; it is only expected that I serve them now.”
Lasting Advice
Pursuing and completing a doctorate program is no simple feat. Dasha has been studying for many years now and has learned a very valuable lesson when it comes to working towards a doctorate degree.
“Find a specialty or field you are passionate about. As the saying goes, ‘If you love what you do, you never have to work a day in your life’. And I love the thought that I can help veterans with their mental health. It will be more than my career; it will be my duty,” Dasha said.
To learn more about PTSD and how it can affect people, visit https://www.ptsd.va.gov/
Who is Trudy Jacobson?
Trudy is an entrepreneur and leader. Her path to success and entrepreneurialism started in the trucking industry decades ago. She encountered numerous obstacles in the male-dominated industry- like discrimination. She was even defrauded out of a lot of money by an unscrupulous, opportunistic person. Despite all that, Trudy always fought hard and pushed forward. Once she realized she could do anything, she started her own company and excelled. Now she empowers other women to do the same and to learn from her experience. Trudy now highlights their stories for the world to see in the Great American Women Series. Trudy wants women everywhere to know they can achieve their goals.