VA Boston Healthcare System

PTSD awareness

June is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) awareness month. Throughout the month, VA’s National Center for PTSD is asking everyone to help raise PTSD awareness; collaborating with outside organizations to spread the word. The Center is making special postings on the PTSD website www.ptsd.va.gov, Facebook, and Twitter. In 2010 and 2011, Congress declared June 27th “National PTSD Awareness Day” and it is slated to be approved again in 2012. Be sure to visit www.ptsd.va.gov to meet Veterans who will introduce you to important topics on PTSD.

Research shows that PTSD prevalence estimates in returning service members and Veterans are between 10-15%. Research with previous groups (e.g., Vietnam, Gulf War) has found similar or even higher estimates. PTSD can impact an individual’s relationships, career and day to day life. Improving PTSD services and research is a priority within the VA.

The National Center for PTSD has two divisions located at VA Boston Healthcare System; the Women’s Health Sciences Division and the Behavioral Sciences Division. The divisions have been working together to promote PTSD awareness locally and this year will mark the 2nd annual National PTSD Awareness Day at the Jamaica Plain campus. Recently, together with the National Center for PTSD the Translational Research Center for Traumatic Brain Injury and Stress Disorders (TRACTS), the Center for Returning Veterans, and other groups within VA attended a day of events at the VA in honor of National PTSD Awareness Day and provided information to Veterans about empirically supported PTSD treatments, research and services available at the VA Boston Healthcare System. The event allowed Veterans to speak with staff, ask questions and find out more about PTSD.

This year, on Wednesday, June 27th from 9am-1pm in the lobby of the Jamaica Plain campus various VA groups will provide informational brochures and videos, promotion of new PTSD educational materials (e.g., About Face an online gallery dedicated to Veterans talking about living with PTSD and how treatment turned their lives around), referral information and more. In the afternoon from 1-2pm in basement conference room (BD- 112L) at the JP campus there will be a presentation led by National Center for PTSD staff. It will cover a brief overview of the symptoms of PTSD, the impact of PTSD, scientifically supported treatments for PTSD and how Veterans can seek services within the VA. There will also be time for questions.  Veterans, families, providers and staff are all welcome to attend.

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