June is National PTSD Awareness Month, a time dedicated to educate people on the condition and help those who are experiencing it find the support they need.
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a common mental health condition caused by traumatic events in a person’s life. It is normal for people to have stress responses after experiencing violence, trauma, or a disaster. For people with PTSD, those symptoms are even more severe and long-lasting. Left untreated, it can impact their physical and mental health, their relationships with others, and their ability to function on a day-to-day basis.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website says the national awareness effort for PTSD started as a single day on June 27, 2010, as PTSD Awareness Day. It was created in honor of National Guard Staff Sergeant Joe Biel, who developed PTSD after two tours in Iraq and died by suicide in 2007. In 2014, the federal government declared June as PTSD Awareness Month.
For veterans, who suffer from PTSD at a higher rate than the general population, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs says that PTSD treatments work, but most people who suffer from the disorder do not seek out treatment. People can help by telling their friends, family members, colleagues and social media followers that PTSD treatments are available and effective. Their website provides guides for treatment, testimonials from veterans who have had successful treatments, and more.
The VA encourages people to observe National PTSD Awareness Month in 2024 by making a pledge on June 1, using a social media image they provide on June 2, and providing links to resources, like the Veterans Crisis Line, on June 3. You can also sign up for a virtual walk or take a self-screening exam on PTSD Screening Day (June 27).
While PTSD is often associated with veterans or people who have survived violence/sexual assault, the National Institute of Mental Health says anyone who has experienced a “shocking, scary, or dangerous event” can develop PTSD. Even learning that someone else has experienced severe trauma can cause it to develop.
According to the National Center for PTSD, about 6 out of 100 people will experience PTSD in their lives and the rate is higher among combat veterans. Women are more likely to develop PTSD than men. It is important for anyone who develops PTSD to work with a professional to treat the condition.
Not everyone who lives through a traumatic event develops PTSD, but for those who do, symptoms usually begin to develop within 3 months. The National Institute of Mental Health lists the following criteria to be diagnosed with PTSD:
To be diagnosed with PTSD, an adult must have all of the following for at least 1 month:
- At least one re-experiencing symptom
- At least one avoidance symptom
- At least two arousal and reactivity symptoms
- At least two cognition and mood symptoms
The institute lists details on each type of symptom, which include flashbacks (re-experiencing), being easily startled or having trouble sleeping (arousal and reactivity) and trouble remembering details about the traumatic event (cognition and mood).
As with many conditions, people who develop PTSD may have overlapping mental health struggles, such as anxiety, depression, substance abuse, or suicidal thoughts. When paired with difficult life events, like the loss of a job or a death in the family, it can become even more debilitating.
PTSD is a common response to trauma, and is not something anyone should feel ashamed of. Treatment is available, and it works. To learn more about the condition, treatment options, and how to support people living with PTSD, visit the National Institute of Mental Health, the VA, or the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
If you or someone you know is struggling or having thoughts of suicide, call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. In life-threatening situations, call 911.