Mental Health Peer Support for Veterans

Vet to Vet is a self-help program of veterans helping veterans overcome both mental illness and substance abuse. Vet to Vet was established in the early spring of 2002 at the Errera Community Care Center in West Haven, Connecticut as part of the VA system of mental health care. Moe Armstrong, founder of Vet to Vet, NAMI board member and Veterans subcommittee chair, says that “the program is not based on strong leaders, rather, the program is based on mutuality.  It is a learning teaching process, where we try to get people to learn and teach simultaneously.”

The VA has officially trained and developed peer educational support meetings inside the VA Errera Community Care Center and evaluated these self-help meetings. These meetings are complementary to the care that was already being provided by the Community Care Center. The five Vet to Vet group meetings each week are: Recovery, Disability Awareness/Disability Pride, Writers Meetings, Mental Illness Anonymous, and Wellness. [Learn More]