Rockne Jacque, BSN, RN

VA Central Western MA Health Care System, Leeds, MA

NOVA Chapter 232

NOVA member Rockne Jacque, RN is a Nurse on the PTSD Specialized Inpatient Unit (SIPU) at the VA Central Western MA Health Care System. The idea for the project of “Art Therapy: Mask Making” came from the Walter Reed Medical Center and was published in the National Geographic February 2015 edition “Healing Our Soldiers”. Rockne piloted the project and worked with an advocacy group to obtain supplies that would allow Veterans to become more creative in expressing what it looks like to live with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). After three years, Voluntary Services began to fund the project and the Research Department began to take interest. Veterans are now able to be more creative through different mediums (clay, paint, fabric, glitter, feathers, stickers, beads, etc.) to express how they feel, manage, and live with PTSD.

Rockne, in conjunction with Recreational Therapy staff, co-facilitate a group of Veterans from the SIPU to work alongside and help Veterans of the Community Living Center. This allows Veterans of all eras to come together and express their invisible wounds through art.

While creating their masks, Veterans go through many emotions. Some reflect, become anxious, cry, smile, laugh etc. Occasionally, Veterans like to work on their mask independently; however most enjoy working in groups and reminiscing about their time in service. When their projects are complete, the Veteran is asked to fill out a survey to convey their level of satisfaction while engaged in this program. Veterans find that the project can be powerful, triggering, and full of mixed emotions. Most Veterans feel they would complete the project again and recommend it to other Veterans. One Veteran told Rockne, “It was difficult when I was making my mask. It brought up many emotions and memories, but It was nice to actually see my PTSD so I can show it to others in hopes they will understand too”.