information is shared from resources as posted.
NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness
http://www.nami.org/
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness
http://www.nami.org/
PTSD Awareness Month: Educate Yourself
By Joni Agronin, NAMI Communications Intern
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June is PTSD awareness month and in an effort to help as many people as possible, Thursday, June 20 has been named PTSD Screening Day. Screening for Mental Health, Inc. has made a self-assessment available to the public and encourages anyone who may be experiencing symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder or is concerned about a loved one to take the test to make an initial evaluation.
Over the last year, many communities across the United States have experienced tragedies. From shootings in Aurora, Co. and Newtown, Conn., to the Boston Marathon bombing, natural disasters and other events, it is an unfortunate fact that anyone can experience trauma.
According to the National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, about 60 percent of men and 50 percent of women will experience a traumatic event in their lifetime and the numbers are even higher for members of the armed forces.
Everyone deals with trauma differently but sometimes events can have a strong and permanent affect on the brain of victims. These disruptions in the normal functioning of an individual’s brain can drastically impair their ability to heal and potentially lead to anxiety, anger, violence, sleeplessness and many other symptoms. These symptoms may appear immediately or take months to occur and can affect both individuals and communities alike. The persistence of these symptoms over time is referred to as posttraumatic stress disorder or PTSD.
Not everyone who experiences a traumatic event will develop PTSD but up to 20 percent of those individuals may. Twenty percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans experience PTSD, half of which may never seek treatment.
In the wake of the tragedies our nation faced this year, as well as events that happen every day in combat or at home, it is especially important to remember that help and support are available.
The online test is free and anonymous and while it does not offer a diagnosis it may help explain symptoms and provide information about when and how to seek further assessment by a clinician.
There are many options available to individuals who may want to seek treatment or simply want to learn more about the disorder. Anyone can experience symptoms of PTSD and you are absolutely not alone.
http://www2.nami.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Top_Story/PTSD_Awareness_Month_Educate_Yourself.htm
###Help Raise PTSD Awareness
Spread the word!
Join our efforts spread the word about PTSD and effective treatments during PTSD Awareness Month. Everyone makes a difference. Help Raise PTSD Awareness printable PDF.
- Discover the facts.
Start with PTSD Basics, key information about trauma, PTSD and treatment options. For more advanced information, watch our PTSD 101 Course:PTSD Overview. We offer many free, in-depth Continuing Education Courses for Professionals as well. - Explore your options.
Take the mystery out of PTSD treatment. Our short whiteboard video PTSD Treatment: Know Your Options reviews the best treatments. And visit AboutFace, a website where Veterans, their family members and clinicians talk about turning life around with PTSD treatment.
- Help someone. Help yourself.
Do you think you might have PTSD or know someone at risk? Take action for yourself or someone you care about. We outline steps to help you know whether you might have PTSD and locate where to get help. - Give support. Get support.
Managing PTSD can be easier with the support of others. If you are getting treatment, or have finished treatment, our self-help information and tools can help you manage stress. Caregivers can look to organizations that offer support for family and friends for tips on self-care too.
- Pass along what you learn.
Use Facebook or Twitter to share up-to-date information or ask us questions about PTSD and treatment. Subscribe to our email publications - PTSD Monthly Update, Clinician's Trauma Update-Online, or PTSD Research Quarterly - and let others know they are free. Our printable PDF with ways to raise PTSD awareness is also easy to share. - Work together.
Join our PTSD Awareness campaign! We have promotional materials to help you organize an event or share information about PTSD and effective treatments.
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