June is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month. PTSD is an anxiety disorder that some people develop after seeing or living through an event that caused or threatened serious harm or death.
PTSD may result in sleep problems, irritability, anger, recurrent dreams about the trauma, intense reactions to reminders of the trauma, disturbances in relationships, and isolation. Some people may recover a few months after the event, but for others it may take years. For some, PTSD may begin long after the events occur. However, PTSD can be treated.
The Departments of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Defense (DOD) along with HHS have been supporting research to reveal the underlying causes of PTSD and related conditions, develop better tools to identify those at highest risk of developing the disorder, and develop new and better treatments and preventive interventions.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) also offer a variety of resources designed to help people who suffer from PTSD, as well as aid their families and friends in better understanding and dealing with trauma’s aftermath. These resources include:
- The VA's National Center for PTSD has many helpful resources for veterans, active duty military members, and their families and friends at ptsd.va.gov
- SAMHSA has resources about PTSD and other mental health conditions at samhsa.gov
- NIMH and National Institutes of Health offers PTSD resources and scientific studies at nimh.nih.gov
Get Help in a Crisis
- Call 988 if you need to speak to a trained crisis counselor who can help with mental health-related distress. You can also text 988 or chat online with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call if you are concerned about someone else.
- If you are a Veteran, or are concerned about one, call 988, then press "1" to speak with a responder qualified to support Veterans. You can also text 838255 or chat online with the Veterans Crisis Line.