Minnesota veterans with PTSD turn to the outdoors to improve mental health
- Minnesota veterans like Sandi Braunstein and Sean Gobin use outdoor activities such as adaptive skiing and long-distance hiking to manage PTSD and improve mental health in 2025.
- Their engagement follows difficult transitions from military to civilian life, where PTSD, anxiety, and stress symptoms often emerge and complicate reintegration.
- Braunstein skis with a bi-sit ski after amputating her leg due to injuries from military training, while Gobin founded Warrior Expeditions, an outdoor therapy nonprofit aiding veterans through wilderness trips.
- Studies and program data show that outdoor experiences reduce PTSD symptoms by lowering blood pressure, cortisol, and improving psychological well-being, as measured before and after such expeditions.
- Veteran advocacy led to 2020 federal legislation mandating Veterans Administration research on outdoor therapy, supporting expanded programs to aid mental health and reintegration for veterans nationwide.
17 Articles
17 Articles
Veterans with PTSD turn to the outdoors to improve mental health - Austin Daily Herald
By Erica Zurek Nothing could stop Sandi Braunstein from carving her way down a ski run at Snowmass Resort in Colorado. She glided over the snow alongside her two coaches, Jeff and Erik, who were there to instruct and support her as she made turns down the mountain. Braunstein uses a bi-sit ski, which consists of a molded seat mounted on a frame with two skis underneath. This adaptive equipment is designed for people who ski in a seated position …
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Minnesota veterans with PTSD turn to the outdoors to improve mental health
Nothing could stop Sandi Braunstein from carving her way down a ski run at Snowmass Resort in Colorado. She glided over the snow alongside her two coaches, Jeff and Erik, who were there to instruct and support her as she made turns down the mountain. Braunstein uses a bi-sit ski, which consists of a molded seat mounted on a frame with two skis underneath. This adaptive equipment is designed for people who ski in a seated position and might have …
Veterans with PTSD turn to the outdoors to improve mental health
Spending time engaging in outdoor recreation is known to improve general health and well-being. And research shows that veterans, in particular, benefit from outdoor activities as part of a complementary approach to treating mental health.
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