National PTSD Awareness Month Spotlights Disruptive Traumas

PHOENIX (June 3, 2024) — June is National PTSD Awareness Month, an important opportunity to gain understanding, knowledge and access resources that provide support and insight for those who experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its challenging symptoms.

PTSD does not discriminate. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), there are more than 12 million Americans with PTSD. While treatments have been developed and proven effective, many people with PTSD do not pursue help or access to resources to help manage its impacts.

National PTSD Awareness Month is an opportunity to recognize and understand that PTSD can impact anyone and can be triggered by events from serious injuries to natural disasters. There is no one cause or treatment, but accessing resources is key.

For Veterans and military-connected individuals, PTSD can disrupt the lives of those who experienced combat, severe injury and other distressing traumas during their Service. VA offers comprehensive PTSD information, treatments and resources for military-connected individuals to overcome service-related severe traumas and symptoms.

One military-related trauma that can impact any individual who has served in uniform is military sexual trauma (MST). According to VA, MST is sexual assault or threatening sexual harassment experienced during military service.

VA also has support and resources to manage and overcome MST’s behavioral health impacts. VA’s community-based Vet Centers have no-cost, effective services to support those who have experienced MST trauma.

Support at VA Vet Centers may include individual or group therapy, marital and family counseling, benefits referral assistance, and even substance abuse resources to reduce the psychological toll of MST. Survivors do not have to report the trauma in order to access professional and confidential counseling.

Vet Centers are safe places where Veterans and military-connected individuals can receive no-cost counseling and care in a non-medical setting. Additionally, many Vet Center counselors are Veterans and understand that effective treatment can be different for each type of trauma.

Learn more about VA Vet Centers and their trauma support services in this recent VA News item spotlighting its no-cost, confidential MST counseling.