Orlando VA program uses tabletop gaming to build connection
Veterans across the VA Healthcare System are finding connection, creativity and emotional wellness through the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, an unexpected but powerful tool being used in a growing mental health initiative known as the Reimagining Veterans’ Emotions, Actions, and Life Skills (REVEAL) Program.
On the surface, dice, character sheets and fantasy maps may seem like unlikely tools for mental health support. However, through the REVEAL program, Veterans are building trust, practicing communication and reconnecting with others in a welcoming, peer-driven environment.
Launched in 2023 as part of VA’s ongoing Innovation Project, the program was developed and is led by Navy Veteran Victor Mitchell, who serves as the access program support assistant for mental health leadership at the Lake Nona campus of the Orlando VA Healthcare System.
“I’ve been a gamer for more than 40 years, and gaming helped pull me out of a very dark place after my own traumatic experiences,” Mitchell said. “I realized it wasn’t just about playing a game, it was about reconnecting, using creativity and breaking out of isolation. I wanted to bring that same opportunity to other Veterans.”
The REVEAL Program meets on the second and fourth Friday of each month at 1 p.m., excluding holidays, in the Mental Health Conference Room. During each session, Veterans participate in an ongoing Dungeons & Dragons campaign designed to promote teamwork, communication and problem-solving without the pressures of a traditional therapy setting.
“Tabletop role-playing allows Veterans to practice skills like anger management, empathy and decision-making in a natural way,” Mitchell said. “It’s authentic, it’s engaging and it meets Veterans where they are.”
Building connection through creativity
For Army Veteran Jennifer Chester, who served during the Cold War era from 1985 to 1987, the program offers camaraderie and creative freedom.
“There’s a lot of laughter and teamwork,” Chester said. “You get to be creative, try new things and just enjoy being around other Veterans. It’s fun, and there’s really no downside. You don’t have to spend money and you’ve got nothing to lose.”
Air Force Veteran Brandon Sittler, who served from 2002 to 2008, discovered the program after seeing a flyer at VA and says it delivered exactly what he was looking for.
“I was looking for a group of like-minded people, especially fellow Veterans,” Sittler said. “It’s creative, it’s social and it’s good for mental health. I’d tell other Veterans to come give it a try.”
A model for Veteran-centered engagement
Mitchell hopes the REVEAL Program can inspire similar initiatives across VA.
“Gaming breaks down barriers,” Mitchell said. “It creates community without forcing Veterans to relive painful experiences. When facilities listen to their Veterans and build programs around what engages them, they’ll see the impact.”
