Observe National PTSD Awareness Day Every June 27
The goal for National PTSD Awareness Day is to increase awareness and understanding of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its treatments.
We’ve gotten much better at understanding PTSD in recent years. But there’s still work to do.
There are still people who’ve never heard of it. Others don’t really know what it means. They may think it’s something to just “snap out of.” But it’s not. It’s a real, scary and often disabling disorder.
And if a family member is suffering from PTSD, many people don’t know how to help.
So Congress declared the first PTSD Awareness Day for June 27, 2010.
And starting in 2013 the Senate designated June as National PTSD Awareness Month.
What is PTSD?
PTSD stands for posttraumatic stress disorder. It happens to some people after they experience trauma.
We usually think of it as something soldiers get after being in combat. But anyone can get it, even children. Trauma can be anything from assault (including sexual) to surviving a natural disaster.
Feeling stressed, anxious and even depressed after a trauma is perfectly normal. But over time these feelings should go away. If they don’t, it could be PTSD.
A mental health professional can diagnose PTSD.
With treatment PTSD can get better. There are a number of treatments that can help. Because people are different, the same treatment doesn’t work for everyone. You and your doctor may need to try a few different things before you feel better.
Treatments can include a kind of counseling called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), another kind of counseling called eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), medications, and alternative therapies.
You can learn more about PTSD and it’s treatments at the Veterans Affairs’ National Center for PTSD website.
The site also includes information on where to find help for PTSD. You’ll find options for getting help in a crisis (including the number for the Veterans Crisis Line), links to advice on finding a therapist, and more.
Scroll down for some ideas on observing this unofficial holiday.
What Can You Do For PTSD Awareness Day?
As an individual, you may wonder what you can possibly do to raise awareness.
Admittedly there may be limited options for what you can do on this day. But you can use it to start learning more about PTSD. Start with the National Center for PTSD website.
You can also sign up to get the VA’s PTSD Monthly Update. Whether you’re trying to help someone with PTSD, you have it yourself, or you just want to keep up with the latest news, this email newsletter may help.
If you’re the owner or a manager of a company, consider posting or passing out some of the Center’s print materials.
You may also want to follow/share the Center’s Facebook page and/or Twitter feed.
Take a look at events and fundraisers held by Stop Soldier Suicide. See if you’d like to be a part of any of them. (Please Note: we have not researched this organization beyond verifying that they are a Platinum-levle GuideStar participant. Please do your own due diligence before donating money or time).
Nurses might be interested in Raising Awareness about PTSD: A Resource Guide, from RNtoBSN. It includes information on PTSD myths, treatment and links to additional resources. Even if you’re not a nurse, some of the resource links may be helpful to you.
Do you know of any other resources for spreading awareness of PTSD? Please share.
[…] National PTSD Awareness Day: If you’ve never experienced PTSD firsthand (and we hope you haven’t), it can be hard to understand just how overwhelming it can be. For both the patient and loved ones. Help spread awareness of this condition that’s still overlooked or hidden too often. […]
[…] National PTSD Awareness Day: We’ve learned a lot about PTSD over the years. But it’s still a scary and often lonely condition, especially for those who feel they need to hide it. If you or someone you know has symptoms of PTSD, please learn more and find help. […]