Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center

Marine Corp Veteran Tim Bahr (left) is the VA Rhinelander Clinic’s Peer Support Specialist. He has deployed to hotspots around the world, including Iraq (shown above).

 “Shell shocked,” “battle or combat fatigue,” and “PTSD” are some of the evolving terms for the impact that war has had on troops throughout the last 100 years.  

Much is made in the press and in health care circles recently of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) resulting from 10 plus years of combat operations.  In reality, war has always impacted the mental health of soldiers and sailors.  However, mental health professionals are much more knowledgeable of PTSD, and other mental health disorders, and treatments for those disorders are more varied and effective. 
One of the effective treatments used today by the VA in its mental health recovery program is peer support recovery groups, and the VA’s Community Outpatient Clinic in Rhinelander, Wisconsin is leading the way. 

The Rhinelander VA Clinic, which had over18,200 Veteran health care appointments in 2011, is staffed with a Psychologist, a Licensed Master Social Worker and a Peer Support Specialist, in addition to one physician, two Nurse Practitioners, a pharmacist, six nurses and two administrative staff. 

The two mental health professionals offer evidence-based therapies that are proven treatments for behavioral health issues.   The Peer Support Specialist leads eight peer support recovery groups and two spouses’ groups in support of the recovery program.
“The peer support groups provide opportunities for the Veterans to take control of their own recovery,” said Tim Bahr, the VA Clinic’s certified Peer Support Specialist.  Bahr is a long-serving Marine Corp Veteran who, himself, is recovering from PTSD. “These groups teach and support the learning of skills needed to facilitate one’s recovery as well as help the Veteran develop a sense of wellness and self-worth,” he added.

Two of the peer groups Bahr leads are Mantram Repetition groups.  “Mantram is not transcendental meditation, and I’m not a TM type of guy,” said Bahr, “but rather it’s a way to initiate a pausing action in my cyclic thinking.”  Bahr uses the method as another tool in his recovery. 
Two other peer groups are for spouses.  “I was asked by the spouses of our group participants if they could have a one-time group so they could understand what was happening to their spouses,” said Bahr. “This one-time group turned into a weekly spouses group, and now we have two spouses’ peer groups going,” he added.

Studies have demonstrated the positive impact peer support makes to the recovery of people dealing with mental health conditions.  Peer support groups have improved social functioning and quality of life for Veterans while reducing hospitalizations and use of crisis services.
“One Vietnam combat Vet had isolated himself from pretty much everyone since returning from the war,” said Bahr. “He wanted little, if any, interaction with others.”

“After being fired from his long time job, and with the insistence of his wife, the Veteran joined one of the clinic’s peer led, peer support recovery groups, and today he is getting out and socializing with members of the group,” Bahr added. 
This Veteran is just one example of many veterans who have expressed the empowerment they feel by having the opportunity to participate in peer support groups.

“It is not uncommon for participants in peer support groups to say that they are glad the group is being led by someone who knows where they have been or understand where they are coming from,” said Bahr.

Peer support groups and evidenced-based therapies are both part of the VA’s mental health recovery model.
“Mental health recovery is about the Veteran finding his or her way in the world – the way that works best for them so they can live the best life possible,” said Karen Krebsbach, Recovery Coordinator at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain, Michigan.   “Recovery groups change the emphasis from ‘What is wrong with you’ to ‘what is right with you,’” said Krebsbach.

Veterans interested in peer support groups or other mental health treatments may call the Rhinelander VA Outpatient Clinic at 715-362-4080 or the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center at 800-215-8262, extension 32777 or karen.krebsbach@va.gov