U.S. Army Col. Kathy Platoni displays the bracelet she wears to remember her friends and fellow soldiers killed in Fort Hood shootings. Photo by Al Behrman of AP.

Cheers to TMC.net for running this Associated Press article on how social workers and psychologists helped soldiers deal with grief and stress after the Ft. Hood shootings a year ago in Texas.

In that incident Maj. Nidal Hasan opened fire on fellow troops, killing 13.

The article touched on how social workers and other staff who counseled survivors after that tragedy had to deal with grief themselves. Some knew the deceased.

“We all sort of leaned on each other and held each up when we needed to and pushed each other forward when we needed to. I think that’s what got me through, what has kept me getting through it,” said social worker Sgt. Kara Kortenkamp.

To learn more about how social workers help the nation’s troops, visit the National Association of Social Workers’ “Help Starts Here” Veterans Affairs Web page by clicking here.