For 24 years, Jeff Tynan served in the Air Force and was deployed to Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Hungary, Bosnia, Croatia and Iraq. He has survived multiple scud rocket missile attacks and knows what it’s like to live in camp gear for a month straight.
“That kind of started me down a pattern of anxiety and sleeplessness,” said Tynan who retired in 2013. Since then, he has struggled with insomnia, irritability and social anxiety, common complaints among veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
“The mental health of veterans is quite a challenging thing,” he said.
After years of struggling, Tynan took steps to get help. He reached out to the Nevada County Veterans Service Office where through the Veterans Outreach and Wellness (VOW) Program he was able to get the help he needed.
A year ago, the Veterans Service Office (VSO) entered into a partnership with Sierra Family Therapy Center as part of its Veterans Outreach and Wellness (VOW) Program. The program provides free, confidential mental health services, leveraging diverse billing options that include veterans’ families in the treatment process. Since July 1, the VSO has made 27 referrals to the mental health program.
Because of the program, Tynan was able to start Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a psychotherapy technique that treats psychological trauma.
“It’s been life changing,” he says of the therapy he received at Sierra Family Therapy Center for the past year.
“I’m not as anxious as I used to be. I have grown patient with myself and those around me and have been able to sleep better at night,” he said.
Tynan is not alone. Veterans, like him, face significant challenges when transitioning to civilian life, often struggling with the loss of structure, camaraderie and purpose from military service. This, coupled with a “warrior mentality” that discourages seeking help and sees it as a weakness, leads to higher rates of depression, anxiety and PTSD.
Long wait times for VA mental health services, often three to six months, exacerbate these issues, compounding feelings of isolation and distrust. A lack of stable housing and employment has fueled a cycle of worsening mental health, unemployment and homelessness. California faces a particularly acute crisis, with one-third of the nation’s homeless veterans.
Nevada County’s VOW Program is actively addressing these issues in a holistic approach by integrating multiple services to prevent veteran suicides, end veteran homelessness, provide pathways to employment and foster community engagement.
“I want people to be aware of our mental health services. With our program we can probably see veterans in three to four weeks. There is no cost, we can even see family members under certain conditions. The goal is to get you better. We’re here to help,” said David West, Veterans Service Officer.
There Is No Shame In Getting Help
One of the biggest hurdles is isolation, feeling alone and working up the courage to overcome the stigma of mental health and trust that therapy is actually a good thing.
“There is nothing wrong with you if you are suffering from trauma. There is no shame in getting help,” said Sierra Burton of Sierra Family Therapy.
Her care team has served 100 veterans in the past year working in various trauma modalities. Most veterans get 10 free sessions and after that the clinic can contract with various insurance companies or provide care on a sliding scale, pro bono or reduced rate.
“We are a safe place to come and talk. We are seeing positive outcomes and definitely meeting their goals of symptom reduction across the board. All they have to do is make the first step and reach out and ask for help,” said Burton.
In Nevada County, there are 10,500 veterans, roughly 10 percent of the population. When adding families, this number rises to 15 percent. Veterans can be as young as 20 and each veteran has a unique experience.
“We have vets from every generation. Currently one in four are accessing benefits that they’ve earned from their service. There’s a lot of room for growth,” said West, a vet himself.
The VSO helps veterans navigate an overwhelming VA system and find the resource that is right for their particular needs. A full-time office assistant will begin Oct. 22 to assist West with answering phones and greeting veterans.
Nevada County has a long history of supporting veterans and in recent years that support has grown. Community Engagement is one of the pillars of the VOW and community-organized events such as Military Appreciation Week and Grass Valley Armed Forces Day honor veterans and help to strengthen ties with the local community. The first Veterans Health and Wellness Fair held in August was a success with 150 in attendance and soon the Vet’s Hall will get an upgrade thanks to a recent $10 million grant to the county from the California Strategic Grant Council.
Every Thursday, Veterans are invited to walk-in without an appointment and explore the many resources available to them. It’s a welcoming environment, with coffee and doughnuts and therapy dogs in the Vet’s Hall lobby. Veterans can get access to a number of resources that go beyond traditional therapy such as outdoor recreation groups that cater to hunting and working on wooden boats or a popular national program known as Guitars for Vets.
“Veterans need options, not everyone wants to talk about their feelings. Some people want to go hunting or pet a dog,” said West.
Guitars for Vets
Local veterans can participate in the Grass Valley Chapter of Guitars for Vets, a national program with 130 chapters in 40 states.
“I know music has always been a kind of refuge for me. When I’m troubled or even stressed. I pick up my guitar. It’s better than medication, that’s for sure,” said John Thomson, one of seven local volunteer instructors in the program.
The Grass Valley Chapter started in 2022 and so far 17 veterans have graduated from the program. Veterans get 10 one-hour individual lessons with an instructor and for some, the socialization and connections with new friends is the real value. After 10 lessons, the veterans are rewarded with a graduation package that includes a new guitar and accessories.
“The idea behind the program is the healing power of music. We’ve put something in their life that they didn’t have before that they can go to for solace. When you learn a few chords you can bring a lot of joy into your life,” said Thomson.
Learn more about services and scheduling an appointment at: www.nevadacountyca.gov/VSO.
Laura Petersen is a freelance writer living in Grass Valley. This is one of a series of articles written on behalf of Nevada County. She can be reached at laurapetersenmedia@gmail.com.