Posted on Jun 10, 2025
What is your biggest fear about Peer-to-Peer Support Online?
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What are your fears or what do you think Veterans and Activer Service Members fear about being involved in Online Peer-to-Peer Support? Especially those suffering or diagnosed with PTSD, TBI, MST and other Invivisble Wounds.
Support
Mental Health
Mental Health Services
PTSD
TBI
Edited 3 mo ago
Posted 6 mo ago
Responses: 25
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**WARRIORS FOR LIFE (WFL) IS LAUNCHED 2016**
There is some really great feedback on this question and I appreciate everyone's feedback. When my father-in-Law (a Marine Veteran who served in Vietnam as a Sniper) died from suicide on December 8, 2015 I was involved with a a group called Sponsor a Vet's Life (peer support) developed in the virtual world with avatars and veterans. The founder and I worked very hard to bring Veterans in that were struggling with all types of Invisible Wounds (PTSD, TBI, MST, and others) for both Male and Female. It realy took off with both Males and Females developing their own avatars based on their current situation, feelings, personalities, and invisible wounds. The Founder ended up leaving because of Stage 4, Lime Desease and we were left with a small group of veterans with no where to go.
I didn't want to abondon them, so I reached out to the group for input so we could keep it going and one of the group members from Australia said to me... Mikel you keep it going on some other type of platform and we'll give it a new name. Cynthia came up with "Warriors for Life" because no matter how long we were in one of the military services we would always be know as warriors for the rest of our lives. That's when "Warriors for Life (WFL)" was born and started, almost 9 years ago and we the very fee that started with it) kept it going every Saturday evening where I would share different topics and invite expert guest speakers on various holistic ways to help and support veterans through the healing process. As we got bigger and bigger, people couldn't always make Saturday evenings and they wanted to meet on other nights of the week that were more convenient. So I reached out to current veterans that were in Warriors to Life (WFL) program to see if they were interested in becoming facilitators and would help expand the program. Many stepped up from the original group and took on the role of mentor and facilitator, and today we meet 10 times a week to provide peer-to-peer support and topics for veterans to discuss and we've developed some very long lasting friendships and a great support network where we try to help in so many ways during the sessions and behind the scenes.
Everyone should give WFL a try on one of the evenings to just listen in, meet other people with like invisible wounds and see how they share their stories of healing, setbacks, struggles, progress, and other modalities that they've tried, etc. We found that some of our veterans were also first responders prior, after and during deployments or serving in the military, and that the number of susicides for first responders was greater than those that died in the line of duty, so we open up Warriors for Life (WFL) to First Responders. Then we had Caregivers that wanted to join in and understand what their friends or spouses were really going through and how other caregivers were managing the task of taking care of their loved ones, so we opened it up to them as well. We continue to grow and get better at what we do and all of our facilitators are now Peer Support Specialist (trained and working on their Continuing Education Updates annually).
We invite anyone on RallyPoint and outside of RallyPoint to join us on any night of the week and weekend at the posted times on Zoom (confidentially), free, and never recorded to meet our Facilitators and other veterans, first responders, caregivers, and family members that are participating and become part of our family of Warriors. Warriors for Life (WFL) Online Peer Support is one of two main programs provided by Victory for Veterans, Inc (VFV) a 501c(3) National Nonprofit. COL (Ret) Mikel Burroughs is the founder of Warriors for Life (WFL) and Volunteer CEO for the organization. He also conducts WFL (Burly's Warriors) every Saturday night for the last nine years. "Our mission is to provide suicide prevention and reduction for veterans and first responders by healing invisible wounds through holistic modalities and providing year-round Warriors for Life Online Peer Support." Here is a link to check us out..https://www.victoryforveterans.org/warriors-for-life-events
LTC Stephen F.SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth Maj Marty Hogan PO1 William "Chip" Nagel CPT Jack Durish TSgt Joe C. CW5 Jack Cardwell SGT John " Mac " McConnell LTC Stephen Conway Lt Col Charlie Brown SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL LTC Stephen C. PO1 Tony Holland SFC William FarrellLt Col John (Jack) Christensen Sgt (Join to see) Sgt (Join to see) SMSgt Lawrence McCarter Sgt John H.
There is some really great feedback on this question and I appreciate everyone's feedback. When my father-in-Law (a Marine Veteran who served in Vietnam as a Sniper) died from suicide on December 8, 2015 I was involved with a a group called Sponsor a Vet's Life (peer support) developed in the virtual world with avatars and veterans. The founder and I worked very hard to bring Veterans in that were struggling with all types of Invisible Wounds (PTSD, TBI, MST, and others) for both Male and Female. It realy took off with both Males and Females developing their own avatars based on their current situation, feelings, personalities, and invisible wounds. The Founder ended up leaving because of Stage 4, Lime Desease and we were left with a small group of veterans with no where to go.
I didn't want to abondon them, so I reached out to the group for input so we could keep it going and one of the group members from Australia said to me... Mikel you keep it going on some other type of platform and we'll give it a new name. Cynthia came up with "Warriors for Life" because no matter how long we were in one of the military services we would always be know as warriors for the rest of our lives. That's when "Warriors for Life (WFL)" was born and started, almost 9 years ago and we the very fee that started with it) kept it going every Saturday evening where I would share different topics and invite expert guest speakers on various holistic ways to help and support veterans through the healing process. As we got bigger and bigger, people couldn't always make Saturday evenings and they wanted to meet on other nights of the week that were more convenient. So I reached out to current veterans that were in Warriors to Life (WFL) program to see if they were interested in becoming facilitators and would help expand the program. Many stepped up from the original group and took on the role of mentor and facilitator, and today we meet 10 times a week to provide peer-to-peer support and topics for veterans to discuss and we've developed some very long lasting friendships and a great support network where we try to help in so many ways during the sessions and behind the scenes.
Everyone should give WFL a try on one of the evenings to just listen in, meet other people with like invisible wounds and see how they share their stories of healing, setbacks, struggles, progress, and other modalities that they've tried, etc. We found that some of our veterans were also first responders prior, after and during deployments or serving in the military, and that the number of susicides for first responders was greater than those that died in the line of duty, so we open up Warriors for Life (WFL) to First Responders. Then we had Caregivers that wanted to join in and understand what their friends or spouses were really going through and how other caregivers were managing the task of taking care of their loved ones, so we opened it up to them as well. We continue to grow and get better at what we do and all of our facilitators are now Peer Support Specialist (trained and working on their Continuing Education Updates annually).
We invite anyone on RallyPoint and outside of RallyPoint to join us on any night of the week and weekend at the posted times on Zoom (confidentially), free, and never recorded to meet our Facilitators and other veterans, first responders, caregivers, and family members that are participating and become part of our family of Warriors. Warriors for Life (WFL) Online Peer Support is one of two main programs provided by Victory for Veterans, Inc (VFV) a 501c(3) National Nonprofit. COL (Ret) Mikel Burroughs is the founder of Warriors for Life (WFL) and Volunteer CEO for the organization. He also conducts WFL (Burly's Warriors) every Saturday night for the last nine years. "Our mission is to provide suicide prevention and reduction for veterans and first responders by healing invisible wounds through holistic modalities and providing year-round Warriors for Life Online Peer Support." Here is a link to check us out..https://www.victoryforveterans.org/warriors-for-life-events
LTC Stephen F.SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth Maj Marty Hogan PO1 William "Chip" Nagel CPT Jack Durish TSgt Joe C. CW5 Jack Cardwell SGT John " Mac " McConnell LTC Stephen Conway Lt Col Charlie Brown SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL LTC Stephen C. PO1 Tony Holland SFC William FarrellLt Col John (Jack) Christensen Sgt (Join to see) Sgt (Join to see) SMSgt Lawrence McCarter Sgt John H.
Warriors For Life Peer Support Events
Warriors For Life Peer Support Events and Hosts. How to join support groups. Daily peer support schedule
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
Sgt Douglas Berger - Indeed it can. You have to build a relationship of trust before it can happen. Just my expereince in doing it now for 9 years Doug!
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SGT Steven Hines
Also check out stand by me heroes. Now a national organization, started at my VFW post 5151.
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16
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That is a male problem because men don’t want to talk about their problems
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GySgt Jack Wallace
Hate to say this but Ann is right....Our church has a Veterans Support Ministries just like you said almost all our male veterans we see in Assisted Living Home won't talk about there service action.
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Sgt Douglas Berger
Ann, one reason males have difficulty is due to stereotyping.
From a young age, boys are judged based on their toughness, while girls are evaluated according to their feminine qualities. This creates an environment where it's acceptable for girls to be affected by the hidden wounds of trauma.
Visible injuries, like those deserving of a "Purple Heart," are recognized and honored, whereas invisible wounds are often dismissed as mere mental illness.
The scars from trauma can have a lifelong impact on veterans, leading some to feel weak or ashamed. Tragically, this shame can drive some individuals to commit suicide.
From a young age, boys are judged based on their toughness, while girls are evaluated according to their feminine qualities. This creates an environment where it's acceptable for girls to be affected by the hidden wounds of trauma.
Visible injuries, like those deserving of a "Purple Heart," are recognized and honored, whereas invisible wounds are often dismissed as mere mental illness.
The scars from trauma can have a lifelong impact on veterans, leading some to feel weak or ashamed. Tragically, this shame can drive some individuals to commit suicide.
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15
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Mikel,
In my opinion, I believe that both men and women find it difficult to open up and discuss their personal issues in a group setting... However, once these people are in the group for awhile then the process of support is accepted and people open up somewhat. I believe the male population has more hesitancy to open up their inner being and issues. It's a natural condition for men to feel strong and not weak and therefore hesitant to really open up to their reality...
Some might say that there is a fear of Judgment: "Men may fear being judged or seen as less masculine by peers, especially other men, if they share their struggles or emotions". Also, many men don't want to show any kind of vulnerability or exposure... There are a number of other factors, to numerous to mention, so I will leave my comments at this point.
Kerry
In my opinion, I believe that both men and women find it difficult to open up and discuss their personal issues in a group setting... However, once these people are in the group for awhile then the process of support is accepted and people open up somewhat. I believe the male population has more hesitancy to open up their inner being and issues. It's a natural condition for men to feel strong and not weak and therefore hesitant to really open up to their reality...
Some might say that there is a fear of Judgment: "Men may fear being judged or seen as less masculine by peers, especially other men, if they share their struggles or emotions". Also, many men don't want to show any kind of vulnerability or exposure... There are a number of other factors, to numerous to mention, so I will leave my comments at this point.
Kerry
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SSgt Richard Kensinger
women do show a greater relational self and are more likely to share feelings; men tend to offer opinions
rich
rich
(7)
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