PURCELLVILLE, VA – In recognition of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month (September), Navy SEAL veteran, Todd Peters, today announced the launch of a new nonprofit, Stronghold Alliance, to address Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and prevent suicide among active-duty military, veterans, and first responders. The organization serves this at-risk population in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia through professional counseling, support groups, and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) clinical treatments that drastically reduce suicidal outcomes.
“There are thousands of active-duty military, veterans, and first responders who are suffering in silence from PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury, and are at-risk for suicidal ideation. Thankfully, there are now proven treatments for these issues, and Stronghold Alliance has the ability to make them more readily available to this community,” said Peters, founder and president of Stronghold Alliance. “I understand the debilitating pain of PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury because for more than a decade I personally suffered from it. Thankfully, I received treatment that probably saved my life.
“Throughout my career as a U.S. Navy SEAL, I lost multiple teammates to suicide; many of those losses were connected to uncontrollable post-traumatic stress and pain. After sitting with too many families who had lost a loved one, I felt led to launch this organization.”
Stronghold Alliance officially soft-launched in January and has served 20 people directly through its programs. During the month of September, the organization is fully launching publicly in recognition of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is a clinical treatment that helps the brain repair and recover from trauma by delivering concentrated oxygen under pressure. By placing the patient in a pressurized chamber breathing 100% oxygen, this therapy increases the oxygen concentration in the body to 15–20 times normal levels, which activates the brain’s repair mechanisms in ways that cannot happen under normal atmospheric conditions.
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month is observed during the month of September to raise awareness about suicide prevention and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. Research indicates that veterans diagnosed with PTSD are significantly more likely to experience suicidal ideation compared to those without the diagnosis.
The Commonwealth of Virginia has one of the highest concentrations of veterans per capita in America. Stronghold Alliance’s immediate focus is the DMV area (D.C., Maryland, and Virginia), and eventually intends to expand into the largest populations of veterans and first responders across the United States.
During his military career, Todd experienced multiple combat deployments that resulted in Traumatic Brain Injury, which led to chronic migraines that lasted over 13 years. In 2022, he received Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) treatment in Reston, Virginia, which significantly reduced the frequency and severity of the migraines.
In May, Todd was appointed a Senior Advisor for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention for the Department of the Navy. Todd served for more than 26 years in uniform, including experience as a U.S. Navy SEAL and 18-Delta Special Forces medic. After military service, Todd served for 13 years as a pastor in Northern Virginia.