By Judy Christie

Col. Tim Sheppard, USA (Ret), “really had intended to stay retired” after 40 years in the Army as an engineer and chief of staff for the Wyoming Army National Guard.

But involvement in the veterans' community drew him in.

Two years after retirement, in 2019, he became the executive director of the Wyoming Veterans Commission and in 2022 embarked on the development of a nationally recognized suicide prevention program for veterans.

“We were No. 1 in a category we didn’t want to be No. 1 in,” he said in an interview.

Sheppard, a MOAA Life member and a member of the WY-CO Border Chapter, helped start Veterans Talking to Veterans (VTTV) and oversees funding and assists with the selection of volunteer coaches for group sessions. The organization has already served 75 veterans, prevented 14 suicide attempts and one homicide attempt, is poised to increase its number of groups, and is assisting other states in developing similar programs.

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“I’ve learned we can make a difference. This program is effective,” he said.

Under Sheppard’s leadership, VTTV was awarded the Abraham Lincoln Pillars of Excellence Award for the Most Innovative State Program in Suicide Prevention, presented earlier this year by VA Secretary Denis McDonough.

“The program’s best practices exemplify outstanding delivery of care for veterans and their families,” McDonough said. “Your efforts and those of the Wyoming Veterans Commission have made a significant and lasting impact on the veterans of Wyoming and the nation.”

Sheppard, 66, is quick to praise the involvement of mental health professional Julie Elledge, Ph.D., and the approximately 40 trained coaches who lead weekly sessions with an “overwhelming sense of wanting to give back and to make a difference.” He describes the “frustration and/or anger” that some veterans have, with issues that too often feed into their personal lives, and he emphasizes the need for mental health support for veterans.

Male and female participants, mostly from the Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq eras, say the program is more than a weekly support group, it is a lifeline that offers a safe way for veterans to talk through very tough emotions.

Staff Sgt. Shane Whitworth, USA (Ret), 52, served 28 years in the military and was awarded a Purple Heart for service in Iraq before becoming a volunteer coach with VTTV, leading a weekly group that ranges from three to 13 participants.

“A lot of us have served in the same area of operation and experienced some of the same stuff … roadside bombs, small arms fire, complex operations,” he said. “At the first meeting, they’re kind of guarded, but as soon as they hear where you were and what you experienced, camaraderie, and trust build … it helps me as much as it helps them.

“What I’d like to say to any veteran who reads this is: ‘Reach out. Reach out to us in the program,’” Whitworth said.

Sheppard agrees.

“We work with any veteran, any era. And for those who want to explore starting a similar program, I’m more than happy to help.”

Judy Christie is a writer in Colorado.