NORTHAMPTON — Research by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs indicates that about 6% of Americans, and about 7% of military veterans, will experience PTSD in their lifetime, while veterans with higher combat exposure are three times as likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

However Jeffrey McCarthy, manager of mental health services at the Springfield VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic, said that these figures are likely severely “deflated” because of the “avoidant” behaviors that veterans engage in out of fear of appearing weak by asking for help.

But as McCarthy stated during his keynote address at the VA’s Rescue and Resilience conference at The Hotel Northampton on Thursday, asking for help can be a great display of strength, and it’s important that individuals are knowledgeable about how to provide that help.

That’s why dozens of western Massachusetts first responders, health care professionals, veterans and others flocked to the iconic Hotel Northampton for a day of talks, panels and classes about supporting veterans and their families on the front lines — whether it’s during their best moments or their worst.

“The goal is simple, the strategy is not always simple,” McCarthy said of aiding a veteran who is in crisis.

He walked the crowd through intervention considerations, such as “tactical transparency,” or letting the individual know what you are about to do before you do it; “non-verbal communication” like postural and facial cues; and even environmental factors like background noise that could be triggering, or sensory details that could help with “grounding” the individual.

“What that is is just using the environment around you to just get them back in the room with you,” explained McCarthy. “Use those senses to get them back in the room with you.”

He explained that the “heightened state” many veterans find themselves in is a result of their training and service experience — the acute awareness they adopt to protect themselves and do their jobs in the service often becomes a crippling anxiety in a civilian setting.

“Our symptoms here are just... adaptations, right?” he said. “It’s why veterans sometimes feel so uncomfortable in this world.”

McCarthy’s address also introduced what would become the common themes underpinning the entire event: the importance encouraging veterans to ask for the help they need, and fostering the connection they often struggle to find when they transition into civilian life or retirement.

Resources geared toward support and connection dominated the discussion as attendees participated in breakout discussions and classes on topics ranging from holistic wellness to navigating the judicial system.

For Easthampton Fire Chief Christopher Norris, the event served as a chance to share and absorb knowledge about supporting veterans when responding to calls in the community involving a veteran or military family that may be suffering in some way.

“Both the police and fire service is always dealing with veterans,” he said. “It’s about helping them get back to that normalization and giving them that understanding that they’ve been subjected to some very difficult experiences as part of their service.”

Norris also expressed excitement about Easthampton’s newly established Veteran Engagement Team involving members of the police and fire departments as well as dispatch. Norris moderated a panel of Engagement Team members during the event, discussing ways that they can enhance support for local veterans and their families.

“It’s making sure that we have that dedicated group of responders to provide support,” he explained.

Outreach and support also play an outsize role for Kelly McAllister, a psychologist and director at the Springfield Vet Center, who shared with attendees tips and resources for helping veterans and their loved ones navigate loss.

McAllister explained that grief and bereavement are always “really unique to each person and also to each loss ... especially when you’re talking about veteran families or military families — that just adds layers of complexity to the family system.”

She also acknowledged that losses can be extremely intense while in the service, because of the deep bonds that service members forge through the intense situations they find themselves in, which can be hard to replicate when they exit the service. With this in mind, McAllister emphasized that finding community, support and connection in the transition to civilian life or retirement is key for veterans, especially those grappling with grief.

“There’s just a real love when you have these experiences and you can get through them together,” she said.

One of the key takeaways that McCarthy, McAllister and other speakers hoped to impart on attendees was that there are many resources available to veterans in Massachusetts who are seeking support. From the bereavement services that McAllister works on at the Springfield Vet Center, to the veterans’ service officers available in each municipality of the commonwealth, veterans are encouraged to reach out for the help they need.

For veterans or their loved ones who need support during an immediate crisis, help is available via call or text at the Veterans Crisis Line, which can be accessed by dialing 988 and then pressing 1. Calls are free and confidential, and can connect those in need with available resources.

Alexa Lewis can be reached at alewis@gazettenet.com.