The Veteran Resource and Enrichment Center Uses Alternative Therapy to Heal Vets From the Inside Out

(KNSI) — A St. Cloud-based organization is helping veterans dealing with thoughts of suicide and other mental health issues.

The Veteran Resource and Enrichment Center Executive Director Kerri Schwegel is a 20 year Air Force retiree and a Desert Storm veteran. She tells KNSI News that her organization uses alternative therapy to heal vets from the inside. “We can keep throwing therapies and medications and everything else at our veterans but it’s really finding that enrichment. Finding that purpose within that helps keep them alive.”

According to its website, the VREC is a new 501(c)(3) that provides a unique experience to veterans and their families by offering kind-hearted advocacy transition management to enhance their well-being.

VREC provides free activities to encourage people to try new things. The program uses activities like equine therapy, better known as horse therapy, to treat veterans’ unseen injuries. They also do art, fly tieing, healing touches, energy therapy, nature journaling and monthly meals as a group, to name a few. Schwegel says this kind of care has done wonders for vets. “I have success stories where we’ve helped veterans who were down the suicidal path that now have relationships and are married with sustainable lives.”

The group also offers gatekeeper suicide awareness training to volunteers and community members to help identify suicidal behaviors and diversion therapy. According to the VA’s most recent National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, veteran suicide rates dropped for the second year to roughly 17 per day.

Learn more about the Veterans Resource and Enrichment Center by clicking here.

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. Veterans can call that same number and press 1.

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