For veterans coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder, a local clinic provided hope. But the money to run it is running out.

  • UCF RESTORES clinical research center
  • Offers PTSD treatment to vets for free
  • Running out of money to continue program
  • INFOGRAPHIC: PTSD Among American Veterans ▼

The University of Central Florida's RESTORES clinic, run by Dr. Deborah Beidel, will be out of funds by May 1.

The psychology professor started the clinic with a several-million dollar grant from the Department of Defense. They use virtual technology to recreate the sights, smells and sounds of war, boasting a high success rate: 67 percent of vets overcome their PTSD within weeks of intensive treatment.

“Of all the things I’ve done... this is the one that means the most to me," said Beidel. “This clinic is really helping people who have no other place to get treatment.”

Beidel's clinic has treated 250 vets — free of charge — in the past six years. But, that could all come to a halt if the clinic doesn't raise the necessary funds.

“We’re running out of money because the grant is over," Beidel explained. "The grant was to develop and evaluate a treatment, not to fund a clinic.”

Veteran Bruce Chambers hopes that the community steps up. The 31-year-old joined the army and was part of the surge in Iraq in 2007. But an IED explosion and ambush changed him, and he returned home unable to cope.

“I, like, had a mental breakdown. And I locked myself away from everything. My parents didn’t even know where I was," he said of his return to the United States. “When I was in my bad spot, I didn’t think anybody could ever be good again.”

Between the nightmares — loud noises as triggers — integrating back into society seemed an impossible task for Chambers.

“You couldn’t be sensitive. You couldn’t be emotional. I understand that, as being a soldier. I was really good at my job," he said. “They trained me how to shoot and kill and take out the enemy. Then I come back and am supposed to act like everybody else. It’s pretty tough.”

In 2012, a mental health counselor referred Chambers to Beidel's UCF clinic. He sought treatment, over the course of several months, and thrived in group sessions.

“We provided the program, but he was the one who put his heart and soul into it," said Beidel. “We can’t let this one go. We know the impact that we have made on people like Bruce and many, many others.”

Chambers said he no longer has nightmares. He can go to concerts and events, no longer paralyzed by the fear of a sudden catastrophe. The father of five is even preparing to open a new chapter in his life, opening a breakfast restaurant in Mount Dora, alongside his fiancee and two others.

“I didn’t have a lot of hope. Now I have a lot of hope," he said, blinking away tears.

But he's adamant that the program needs to continue.

“It’s changing my life. It’s changing everybody else's life around me," he said.

The clinic recently received a $1 million donation from a private donor. But it’s an endowment, breaking down to about $40,000 a year, according to Beidel. They need $400,000 a year to run the program to keeping it free to vets.

The clinic hopes to raise $10 million in order to keep the clinic operating.

Anyone wishing to help can contact Dr. Beidel through her email address: Deborah.beidel@ucf.edu .

Clinicians also recently started treating first responders and victims from the Pulse tragedy for free.