Page Title

Program educates military healthcare providers about near-death
experiences

EAST WINDSOR HILL, Connecticut, Date, 2007/International
Association for Near-Death Studies, Inc. (IANDS)/ – Veterans returning
from IRAQ who have had combat near-death experiences (NDEs) need
support beyond combat anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress
disorder. Colonel Diane Corcoran, USA (Ret) RN, PhD is launching the
Combat NDE Project to educate military and veteran health care providers
and veterans about NDEs.

The Iraq Coalition Casualty Count reports over 32,000 U.S. non-mortal
casualties, and 30% of these service members are likely to have had NDEs,
according to near-death studies. Neither the military or Veterans
Administration has a program. “Although NDEs are typically life-changing,
service members don’t necessarily have a mental health issue,” said
Corcoran.

“In the Army Nurse Corps, Vietnam, patients would describe near-death
experiences. Subsequent to Raymond Moody’s book Life after Life, the
importance of having an education and support system for the military and
the civilian sector became clear,” reports Corcoran.

Corcoran began teaching health care providers in both military and university
hospitals during the 1970s. Corcoran lectures at military hospitals and
nursing conferences, writes articles for nursing journals, and advises NDErs.
In retirement, Corcoran chairs both the education and research committees
of IANDS to advance the understanding of NDEs. Now, backed by
IANDS, Corcoran is generating the financial resources with the Colonel
Diane Corcoran Veterans Fund to create an NDE educational package and
deliver the program to military and VA rehabilitation centers.

The Combat NDE Project’s training will include a video, handbooks,
presentation and articles for continuing education departments of selected
military and veteran hospitals, supported by Corcoran’s expertise and
presentation. Corcoran will connect veterans to IANDS local support
groups and help hospitals start their own groups.

About IANDS

Founded in 1981, the International Association for Near-Death Studies
(IANDS) is the only international organization dedicated to encouraging
scientific research and education on the physical, psychological, social, and
spiritual nature and ramifications of near-death experiences. IANDS
disseminates research on NDEs and similar experiences to a broad
audience, including scientist, medical professionals, religious thinkers, and the
general public. IANDS’ mission is to build global understanding of near-
death and near-death-like experiences through research, education, and
support. IANDS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. For more information
about the Colonel Corcoran Veterans Fund and IANDS, visit http://www.
iands.org and http://www.corcoranconsulting.biz.

Contact: Andrea Curewitz, Colonel Corcoran Veterans Fund Public
Relations, IANDS, 860-882-1211 or andreac@iands.org.

CONNECTICUT, 5 June 2007 International Association for Near Death Studies
(IANDS)

The Colonel Corcoran Veterans Fund will generate financial resources to develop
a comprehensive package to educate military and veteran healthcare providers
and veterans about near-death experiences (NDEs).

Thousands of IRAQ veterans are returning home and some have had a near-
death experience but the military or VA doesn’t currently have a program to
treat these veterans. Colonel Corcoran, USA (Ret) RN PhD is setting out to
provide large military and VA rehab health care centers with a complete training
program to support veterans who report having had an NDE.

In the mid 70’s Corcoran began teaching health care providers both in the
military and university hospitals about near-death experiences. “While in the
Army Nurse Corps I had patients in Vietnam describing NDE experiences,
however, we did not have a name for it at that time.. Over the years, and
subsequent to Raymond Moody’s book Life after Life, the importance of having
an education and support system available to patients in the military and the
civilian sector became very clear to me.” Corcoran has spent 33 years lecturing
at military hospitals, major nursing conferences, writing articles for nursing
journals, and advising near-death experiencers. In retirement, Corcoran chairs
both the education and research committees of IANDS to advance the
understanding of NDEs.

The Military training program will include a video, handbooks and articles
supported by Corcoran’s NDE lecture. Materials will be available for the
continuing education departments of military and veteran hospitals. Corcoran also
plans to study the challenges facing NDE veterans via focus groups and connect
veterans to IANDS local support groups, or assist the hospitals in having their
own groups..

As of (month), there have been over 32,000 US Non Mortal Casualties,
according to the Iraq Coalition Casualty Count, including non-hostile events and
disease. Among these veterans are many service members who have had NDE’s,
as many as 30% of those injuried, according to most literature.. These men and
women do not have a mental health issue because of the nde and will require
different support from those who suffer from combat anxiety, depression or
post-traumatic stress disorder. Corcoran’s training program will fill the gap.

For more information about the Colonel Corcoran Veterans Fund and IANDS,
visit http://www.iands.org and http://www.corcoranconsulting.biz

About IANDS

Founded in 1981, the International Association for Near-Death Studies (IANDS)
is the only international organization dedicated to encouraging scientific research
and education on the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual nature and
ramifications of near-death experiences. IANDS disseminates research on NDEs
and similar experiences to a broad audience, including scientist, medical
professionals, religious thinkers, and the general public. IANDS’ mission is to
build global understanding of near-death and near-death-like experiences through
research, education, and support. IANDS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Media Contact: Andrea Curewitz, Colonel Corcoran Veterans Fund Public
Relations, IANDS, 860-882-1211 or acurewitz@iands.org