Veterans Bridge to Recovery

About the program

Veterans Bridge to Recovery is for Veterans with serious mental illness diagnoses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe depression, or severe PTSD. We help you define your goals, break goals down into steps, and learn skills to achieve goals. Veterans who join VBR work with a provider, called a coach, to create their recovery plan (a list of goals, steps and resources).

Veterans in the VBR program work as a group to support each other in pursuing healthy goals and activities. Such activities include daily goal-setting, educational classes (topics are selected by Veterans), trips in the community (e.g. visiting museums, parks, zoos), exercising, and providing input into how VBR is run.

How the program works

VBR is considered an intensive outpatient psychosocial rehabilitation service where members attend programming 2-5 days per week, meet with a recovery coach to make a recovery plan, practice skills in the community and learn about other educational services. Veterans in the VBR program work on goals such as:

• Managing mental health symptoms and regulating emotions
• Integrating into the community
• Building social support and making friends
• Volunteering and getting a job
• Losing weight and quitting smoking
• Learning about fun local activities
• Independent living
• Improving communication

Values and mission

We value hope, respect, self-help, health, personal responsibility and lifelong learning. 

Our mission is to help Veterans with serious mental illness define and work toward their personal visions of recovery.

Handbook and calendars

Find out more

Talk with your mental health provider or call  for more information. VBR staff will look at your medical record and talk with you and your providers about VBR and other helpful resources.

Veterans who can join VBR

  • Enrolled in VA mental health services
  • Have a serious mental illness
  • Have problems functioning in the community
  • Have difficulties reaching goals on your own
  • Want to make changes in your life

Contact

Veterans Bridge to Recovery is located in our Community Resource and Referral Center, 1201 Harmon Place, Minneapolis, MN 55403.

Phone: 

Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.