This Week on One Detroit: 

OPINION | One Detroit political contributors react to 2024 election results, discuss their impact

OPINION | One Detroit’s political contributors analyze results from the election. Stephen Henderson, host of “American Black Journal,” Nolan Finley of the Detroit News, and Zoe Clark of Michigan Public weigh in on Michigan’s voter turnout and discuss some of the major races.

4Star 4Mile race honors veterans alongside Detroit Veterans Day Parade

The 9th annual 4Star 4Mile Race, set for Sunday, Nov. 10 in Detroit, offers an opportunity for the community to connect with veterans in a meaningful way. The race begins at Dean Savage Memorial Park and participants run alongside the Detroit Veterans Day Parade.
 
Doug Howell, a Vietnam War veteran and race director, founded the 4Star 4Mile Race after discovering the healing power of running as he dealt with PTSD. Howell began long-distance running as part of his own recovery, and his experience inspired him to create the event in 2016.  

He saw it as a way to help other veterans reconnect with a sense of community and purpose while also bringing community members closer to the experiences of those who served. Proceeds from the event benefit the Detroit Veterans Day Parade, supporting the annual celebration. The parade includes Medal of Honor recipients, marching bands, and other military tributes. 

One Detroit’s Will Glover spoke with Howell about the race, what led him to start and continue it annually, and how people can support veterans in their community. 

Push by local Vietnam veterans to rename post-traumatic stress disorder gains momentum

As the nation prepares to commemorate Veteran’s Day, there has been a significant shift in the discourse surrounding veterans’ mental health. Advocates are pushing for a change in terminology, replacing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with post traumatic stress injury” (PTSI) in an effort to reduce stigma and encourage more individuals to seek treatment. The group leading this charge, “Honor For All,” is comprised of Vietnam veterans who understand that the impact of trauma extends far beyond the battlefield.

One of the driving forces behind this movement is Kent Hall, a former Sergeant in Phu Bai with the 220th RAC during the tumultuous year of 1969. Kent has silently battled PTSD for decades, initially unaware of his condition, and even teetered on the precipice of suicide.

Thanks to his connection with Doug Price, Thomas Mahany, and Dr. Frank Ochberg at Honor For All, Kent has not only come to understand his struggle but now dedicates his time to educating others. He shares his experiences and insights, emphasizing that PTSD is not a weakness, but a wound that deserves healing, with the goal of helping veterans and their families find the support they need. 

The debate surrounding the renaming of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) hinges on more than just semantics. While both terms encompass the same set of symptoms, the crucial distinction lies in their conceptualization. PTSD traditionally defines these symptoms as a disorder, while PTSI reimagines them as a biological injury. Mental health experts have long recognized physical alterations in the nervous system in PTSD, and some argue that the change in terminology could alter public perception of the condition and reduce stigmas around it.

One Detroit Senior Producer Bill Kubota explores these issues and more in his conversation with Honor For All activists and mental health experts, shedding light on a movement that may change the landscape of mental health support for veterans and several other groups affected by the condition.

Things to do in Detroit this weekend: November 8, 2024

Veterans Day is right around the corner, and so is the annual Detroit Veterans Day Parade in Corktown. Plus, Motor City Comic Con returns to Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi.  

For those into theater and the arts, the weekend brings the World Ballet Company to the Flagstar Strand Theatre in Pontiac for “Swan Lake.” Plus, you can attend “Into the Woods” at Wayne State University, the 6th annual Cabaret for a Cause in Canton and more. One Detroit contributor Dave Wagner of 90.9 WRCJ shares some events coming up in and around Detroit this weekend.