About Us, Captain John D Mason Veteran Peer Outreach Program

Captain John D. Mason

Veteran Peer Outreach Program

A Veteran Peer Outreach program designed to reduce suicide!

Created in 2018 and named after a Vietnam Veteran who lost his own battle with depression and PTSD. The Captain John D. Mason Program is a Veteran Peer Outreach Program designed to connect Veterans to mental and physical healthcare at the VA and community resources to help prevent Veteran suicide.

The Capt. John D. Mason Program aims to save lives by utilizing Veteran peers to go into the community and locate Veterans in need and engaging them in VA health services, and other community resources, to live a healthy, productive life.

Captain John D. Mason served in Vietnam with the Second Battalion, Twelfth Marines, Third Marine Division. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with the Combat “V” device for his valor and honorable service. John reflected on his military training and values when faced with personal and professional challenges. John was kind, smart, funny, hardworking, and a man of impeccable values and integrity who loved his wife and two children, and friends deeply. He struggled silently for many years with depression and PTSD stemming from his time in Vietnam. John didn’t want to burden his family or friends with his inner struggles. That, combined with the stigma of mental illness, prevented him from seeking sufficient treatment for his symptoms.

In 2013, financial distress and pain from a back injury caused his illness to overpower him and he took his own life. John left five suicide letters, and in one to his best friend, Joe Tate, wrote, “Get me to the VA so they can stop someone else.”

The premise of the program is to have Veteran peers actively reach out to Veterans in the community that are not receiving healthcare in one capacity or another, increasing engagement in VA healthcare services and other community resources, to live a health, productive life.

We can help you connect to the VA. Contact us today!.

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Mission Statement:

“Save Lives ~ Keep Families Together”

Our Mission is to:

Help motivate Veterans and their families to engage in Veteran Administration health systems, seek eligible VA benefits and/or connect with other health care systems. The primary goal is to provide Veterans with the knowledge and resources to live a healthy and productive life. This will be accomplished by developing a sustainable outreach program of Veteran Peers who use their unique skills and Veteran affiliation to develop a connection with Veterans and their families.

Our Focus

We serve ANY Veteran – Active Duty, Reserve or Guard who lives or works in Wisconsin.

FREE – There are NO FEES for this program. The Captain Mason Program partners with the Southeastern Wisconsin Veteran Suicide Prevention Taskforce and the Department of Veterans Affairs.