FARGO - Support meetings for families of deployed National Guard and Reserve members have been scheduled throughout North Dakota before the holiday season.

Mental health professionals are donating their services for the program, which is being paid for with a $2,200 grant from United Way of Cass-Clay.

"I think the holidays are going to be really hard for our families," said Jeanie Moor, a member of the family support group for the Fargo-based 142nd Engineer Battalion.

Many family members of Guard troops in Iraq are facing issues such as separation anxiety, anger management, post-traumatic stress disorder, grief and depression, Moor said.

"We no longer live the carefree lives that we were so used to," she said. "Our days are filled with anxiety, fear and loneliness."

There currently are 24 soldiers home on emergency leave to be with families, said Maj. Gen. Mike Haugen, the North Dakota National Guard commander.

The absence of the soldiers has been especially difficult on children, many of whom suffer from nightmares and have trouble concentrating in school, Moor said.

"These regional meetings will give us a chance to meet other people who are going through the same struggles … and to realize that when we think we are being irrational, we're really experiencing normal emotions," Moor said.

The meetings are not meant to duplicate services offered by the North Dakota Operation Family Support Group, which is providing emotional support and emergency financial assistance, said Ed Schmitz, head of the support group.

"What we did was sort out what support was already there and fill in the needs," Schmitz said.

The meetings are set for Nov. 1 in Fargo, Nov. 2 in Grand Forks, Nov. 14 in Bismarck, Nov. 15 in Minot and Nov. 16 in Devils Lake.

Other meetings might be scheduled if requested, Moor said.

The meetings should be the start of a support program that will include help for Guard soldiers when they return, Haugen said.

"I don't want to dredge up old history, but after the Vietnam War, we had no program like this," Haugen said.

"We had nothing to encourage soldiers to get back into the community. Quite the opposite."

After the Vietnam War, almost 200,000 lives were affected by alcoholism, suicides, depression and post-traumatic stress, Haugen said.

Haugen said he's hoping to arrange a trip to Iraq to visit the soldiers between Thanksgiving and Christmas. He said they need to know firsthand that their families are being taken care of through programs like the support meetings.

"Morale is as good as can be expected since the announcement of one-year, boots-on-the-ground," Haugen said.

He was referring to the news that troops from the 142nd might have to stay in Iraq until April rather than January, a year after they were mobilized.

"Everybody wants to come home, and everyone wants them home, but there's also a job to do."