Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious problem for many soldiers.

A growing problem, it is a public health concern.  A 2003 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine estimated that one in six soldiers and Marines returning from Iraq suffer from the disorder.

Moreover, a 2005 study by the Veterans Administration (VA) found that 20 percent of veterans return home with a diagnosable psychological problem.

Symptoms include flashbacks and recurring nightmares, as well as memory difficulties and feelings of isolation and depression.  And while psychotherapy can and does help, it doesn’t always provide a sense of achievement or closure.

Patrick Nettesheim decided to use his abilities with a guitar to make a difference.

Several years ago, he noted that one of his students, Dan Van Buskirk, a Vietnam veteran who suffered from PTSD, began to show a marked difference in his attitude.  He surmised that the guitar playing made the difference.

The idea of using guitar music to help soldiers facing PT grew.

To that end, Buskirk and Nettesheim founded Guitars For Vets, a non-profit organization.

“We both observed a positive transformation in his life as a result of the camaraderie established in his guitar lesson,” wrote Nettesheim in an email.

“He had a sense of tranquility when he played the guitar on his own.”

This notion has struck a chord with some veterans.

“I know my guitar is what kept me from doing a Jackson Pollack painting on my ceiling with a shotgun,” wrote a veteran named Spot.

Since its inception two years ago, Guitars for Veterans – or GV4 – has helped nearly five hundred veterans.

“The program provides a sense of serenity for the veterans who suffer from PTSD,” continued Nettesheim.

The organization operates strictly on donations and has no paid staff.  In short, it makes guitars available to those veterans who like to play and find solace in doing so.

G4V has opened a number of chapters in Wisconsin, Texas, Missouri and Minnesota.  Within the next two months, the organization hopes to operate in Illinois and Washington DC.

“At this juncture, we are not established in the Pacific NW,” wrote Nettesheim.

“It is our intention to have a presence in every state within the next few years.”

For more information about the organization, or if interested in beginning a chapter in Washington state, visit www.guitarsforvets.org.