If the psychological and spiritual pain of soldiers returning from Iraq is “not transformed, it will be transferred and the results will be passed along in families and communities for generations.”

That is the understanding of healthcare professionals treating returning veterans, said Carolyn Heggen of Corvallis, a nationally known expert on the effect of war trauma on the individual and the community.

Heggen, a psychotherapist who’s affiliated with the Virginia-based Transforming the Wounds of War program, will lead a discussion on “The Invisible Wounds of War: When Our Veterans Return Home” from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19, in the Miller Room of the Old Armory, 104 Fourth Ave. S.W. in Albany.

The talk is open to everyone, especially first responders, educators, members of the clergy, the medical community and families of veterans.

“We are trying to create an awareness of ongoing issues experienced by veterans and their families, and we want to help the community become more of a welcoming one for veterans,” she said.

Communities want to help returning veterans but often do not know how, Heggen said.

“As a nation, we have a sense we really failed Vietnam veterans, and now we are saying we won’t fail vets again,” she said.

In the Vietnam War, for every 100 soldiers injured, 28 died. In the Iraq war, that number is only six.

“A lot more people are surviving, but the implication means we have a whole lot of physically wounded people, which can lead to depression,” she said.

Heggen said of the returning veterans, 300,000 have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and 320,000 have suffered traumatic brain injuries.

Heggen’s talk is sponsored by the Institute for Peace and Justice at Linn-Benton Community College, Albany Peace Seekers and Veterans for Peace Chapter 132.