How one Nebraska nonprofit is using music to treat veterans with PTSD

In an auditorium in Omaha, Nebraska, a group of veterans grip their guitars, some notes shaky, others ringing clear

At the center, a voice guides them, steady and warm. As chords ripple through the room, it's more than music, it's a lifeline

For many service members, the fight does not end when they leave the battlefield

Post-traumatic stress disorder affects roughly 7% of all veterans, often bringing anxiety, depression, and sleepless nights

In 2022, the suicide rate among veterans nearly doubled that of those that have not served

But these veterans are trying a different kind of therapy. Heroes Encore is turning guitars

chords, and melodies into tools for healing. I had a severe PTSD crisis and, you know

just laying there on the floor contemplating life And in that place I just began to think about my children the legacy I would be leaving them In fact going back to my birth father who was a Vietnam vet who succumbed to PTSD by suicide when I was three

Taylor Olem founded Heroes Encore to give other veterans a chance at recovery

The nine-month program combines guitar lessons, songwriting, and public performance, all designed to strengthen the mind and the spirit

Music engages multiple areas of the brain at once, helping regulate emotions and lower anxiety

Being able to be immersed with veterans again, you just have that brotherhood, that camaraderie

It's just something you don't experience anywhere else. And then being able to play music with each other on top of that, it just, it really, truly is just wonderful

Once they've mastered the basics, members move into songwriting and jam sessions

It's here they start to channel their experiences without being forced to dwell on trauma

You know when I playing music I not focused on some of the mental health problems I have or you know what going on in life I just focused on learning the craft and so it been really positive and it been a really

good coping mechanism. The final stage is performance. Veterans step on stage

face an audience, and experience good stress. Day one I tell everybody good stress is still

stress and a dysregulated nervous system can't tell the difference. Even for older veterans, the impact is profound

Patricia White Bear, a Navy veteran, joined the program to pursue her dream of playing

the guitar. I think it brought out another side of my temperament and my personality

I think it made me feel that I had more value than just being a person there

I had a talent that I'm going to explore. Music therapy is not just a creative outlet

It's a clinically recognized approach that helps alleviate PTSD symptoms. According to recent studies, by engaging multiple brain regions simultaneously

music can stimulate neural pathways, enhance emotional regulation, improve mood, lower anxiety, and foster social connection

The study found that expressive art therapies, including music, have shown small to moderate benefits in reducing PTSD and depressive symptoms among veterans Heroes Encore is tailored for veterans first responders and transitioning service members

The full experience, from equipment to performance opportunities, costs the nonprofit about $5,000 per participant

The program relies on volunteers, skilled instructors, and funding to sustain its mission

The investment pays off. Veterans leave with confidence, community, and hope. For Taylor Olem, the mission is clear

I see a rapt tour bus going city to city, preaching mental health, resilience

through the power of music and community, and that we take the spark and ignite it nationwide

Every chord strummed, every lyric sung, is a reminder that they've survived

and that they still have more to share. The best thing anybody can do

is show up as a fan. Show up as a fan in the comments on social media

cheering our heroes on. Show up to the live events and be there to cheer them on

For Straight Arrow News, I'm Alexandra Nolte. For more in-depth reporting, download the Straight Arrow News app

or head to san.com