Veterans, First Responders, and spouses invited to overcome trauma together
TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
In the fall of 2019, REBOOT Combat Recovery Mission #1 was held in Merrill with 12 participants. Mission #2 was postponed in 2020 due to COVID and is now set to launch this Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, at the Northwoods Veterans Post, 601 Johnson St., in Merrill. The program will run once a week on Sundays through Nov. 28, beginning with a meal at 5:00 p.m. and then class from 6:00-7:00 p.m. There is no cost to participate, and childcare can be provided if requested in advance.
REBOOT is described as a “faith-based, peer-led course empowering people of all walks of life to overcome trauma and embrace a brighter future.” Focused on practical tools, healing courses, training, and building a supportive community, the program exists to help participants break free of the pain of past traumas and tragedy. When existing therapies or medications fail to help, REBOOT is an alternative to helping people find renewed purpose and strength and move forward with living for a better future.
Each week, participants progress through a trauma-healing curriculum with a lesson guided by a leader.
“It’s not a lecture. It’s a conversation,” the program emphasizes. “Every participant plays a part in helping one another.”
“At REBOOT, we introduce people to the redemptive heart of God through our trauma healing courses and online community,” the website said. “Our programs provide a unique blend of clinical insight and Christian faith-based support. They are safe, private, peer-led, and outcomes-driven.”
REBOOT originally started as a program to help combat veterans in 2011. In 2018, the program was introduced for First Responders. Since 2011, REBOOT has helped more than 10,000 people overcome the trials, tragedies, and traumas of their past.
The Merrill REBOOT program is open to veterans and their spouses, as well as First Responders.
The REBOOT website indicates there are nearly 300 course locations, spanning 34 states and 7 countries, making REBOOT Recovery the largest peer-led trauma healing program in the world.
One of the program’s goals is to help reduce suicides. The REBOOT website cites the following statistics:
• A suicide attempt happens every 22 seconds in the U.S.
• One life is lost to suicide every 11 minutes.
• Suicide is now the second leading cause of death among ages 18-39.
The website further offers the following:
• TRAUMA is the root cause of suicide, and the existing solutions aren’t working.
• REBOOT delivers healing from trauma that actually works.
Area contacts for the program are: Corey Dornbrack 715.218.3537 and Tracy Jopek 715.302.8896. Questions can also be emailed to: [email protected].