NeighborCare Announces 'Vet To Vet' Support Group

Press release from NeighborCare:

Nov. 21, 2020

NeighborCare’s Vet to Vet chapter is ledby Jose Flores, a Veteran and NeighborCare honorary resident whom has been leading Vet to Vet groups for five years in different cities. Nationally, Vet to Vet has been around since 2002 serving Veterans across the country helping them to gain access to critical mental health resources.

What started as a concept out of passion eight weeks ago, has blossomed into a full-fledged group where nearly a dozen local Veterans gather to share, listen, support, reminisce and let their guard down. Many of them having fought in WWII, Korean and Vietnam wars. The group provides an opportunity for veterans to connect and share their stories and focuses on enriching the lives of Veterans on the NeighborCare campus, and surrounding community.

Barry Styles, a veteran and NeighborCare resident, helped get the Vet to Vet program started at the facility. He said, “This group is nothing short of incredible as Vets need to connect with someone who has the same background as they do. A combat vet especially. Veterans have been known to secretly ‘carry’ the burden they have for several decades. This group and only this group brings out the opportunity to share these things. It’s hard for people that have not experienced it for themselves to relate to military life, and even more so with those that have experienced combat or Traumatic Brain Injury issues.”

When asked about why this group is essential to the greater community, Styles said, “This group allows for us to talk about ways we can erase the stigma of mental health issues among our fellow Vets. It starts with us and groups like ours.”

Flores had similar sentiments, “This group allows for us to connect peer to peer. It also shows us that we are not so different from one another after all. We all have had similar struggles in our lives and it’s amazing to see the transformation these guys have gone through from our first meeting till today. They are communicating more opening and letting their walls down. It’s amazing what we have accomplished together in a short amount of time. We are so fortunate to a space like this to meet. What they have created here for us is truly wonderful.”

Going forward Styles and Flores would love to see even more Veterans attend. Especially those younger Veterans join the group.

The group meets weekly in the dedicated Honor360 room at NeighborCare of Chapel Hill. A space and a program dedicated to honor those who have served us. To learn more about the group and how to get involved, please call 317-273-4208.

This press release was produced by NeighborCare. The views expressed here are the author's own.