Peace Center USA is a new organization offering help to veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

It’s been called soldier's heart, combat fatigue and shell shock throughout the wars, but more recently post traumatic stress disorder or PTSD has become the main name for what is becoming a more common occurrence in veterans.

PTSD is common among veterans mainly because of the nature of war itself. “It’s kind of unreal, some of the things that you see and that you do.”

Joe Gerstandt is a Gulf War veteran. He served four years as an infantry man in the Marine Corps. He can identify with the struggle soldiers are going through even though he never had PTSD.

“Part of it has to do with being in self-defense mode all the time, being in danger’s way all the time that can have a profound impact."

But he says the stigma associated with mental disorders is becoming a major roadblock in soldiers’ road to recovery. And coming back to civilian life can be a sort of culture shock.

“They’re now coming back to be our family members and neighbors and co-workers and all of those things. So there are numerous reasons why we should make some efforts to be intentionally reaching out to them.”

Reaching out is a goal Gerstandt shares with Scott Anderson. “It’s viewed as being unmilitary or potentially even cowardly to talk about or reveal psychological problems," says Anderson.

That’s why he decided to start Peace Center USA. It’s an organization in its early stages, but promises to give hope to veterans who need help.

“Peace Center is an initiative that we’re in the process of funding which will provide free, confidential, post-traumatic stress disorder care for veterans and for their loved ones.”

The center will be run out of the YWCA and they're hoping for an opening date of January 2009. It will give veterans a chance to talk to other veterans with peer to peer counseling.

The center is non-medicinal, but will provide referrals to those who need medical help.

Gernstandt has been looking for a way to give back and will be volunteering before and after it opens. He believes the Peace Center is a necessity.

“I think that it’s one thing to have services available, but I think this is a place where you really have to be kind of intentional to reaching out to those folks because they are coming out of a culture that is about resiliency, discipline and strength. While those things are good, it can also get in the way of people seeking out support."

Peace Center is in need of donations and volunteers. For more information, go to their Web site.

To help raise money, they are planning a benefit concert August 16th at the Waiting Room in Benson.