2018 PTSD Awareness Day and Month

Congress named June 27, 2018 as National PTSD Awareness Day and the Senate also designated June as National PTSD Awareness Month. The purpose of the day and month are to raise public awareness of PTSD and effective treatments. (1)

PTSD is a significant concern for American Indian and Alaska Natives (AI/AN). Results from a study in 2014 stated that, “The available research on PTSD in AI/AN populations indicates clearly that AI/ANs, both urban and rural, suffer a higher burden of trauma and PTSD than the general population. It also indicates the potential for significant differences between tribes and geographic regions in terms of prevalence, concomitant disorders, and type of trauma.” (2)

The National Center for PTSD provides some easy steps you can take to raise awareness of PTSD and effective treatments:

• Learn more about PTSD
  • Visit PTSD Basics – http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/PTSD-overview/basics/index.asp
  • Take the PTSD Overview Course – http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/continuing_ed/ptsd_overview.asp
  • Explore PTSD Options – https://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/treatment/therapy-med/what-if-think-have-ptsd.asp
• Connect with someone about PTSD
  • Figure out if you have PTSD – http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/treatment/therapy-med/what-if-think-have-ptsd.asp
  • Get help with PTSD – http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/where-to-get-help.asp
  • Find self-help information and tools for PTSD – http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/treatment/cope/index.asp
  • Provide family and friends help with PTSD – http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/family/resources_family_friends.asp
• Share information about PTSD
  • Join the PTSD Awareness campaign and share info about PTSD – http://www.ptsd.va.gov/about/ptsd-awareness/promo_materials_awareness.asp (3)

For more information visit the https://www.ptsd.va.gov/about/ptsd-awareness/

 

Sources

1. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2012, May 04). About PTSD Awareness. Retrieved June 26, 2018, from https://www.ptsd.va.gov/about/ptsd-awareness/ptsd_awareness_month.asp
2. Bassett, D., Buchwald, D., & Manson, S. (2014, March). Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Symptoms among American Indians and Alaska Natives: A Review of the Literature. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3875613/
3. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2013, May 20). Help Raise PTSD Awareness. Retrieved June 26, 2018, from https://www.ptsd.va.gov/about/ptsd-awareness/