June is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month. PTSD is an anxiety disorder that some people develop after seeing or living through a traumatic event. According to the 2005 National Comorbidity Survey-Replication study, PTSD affects about 7.7 million American adults annually, though the disorder can develop at any age. Symptoms include strong and unwanted memories of the event, nightmares, emotional detachment, intense guilt or worry, anger, and avoiding thoughts and situations that are reminders of the trauma.

VMSI is an avid supporter of local Veteran organization, Boulder Crest Retreat (BCR). BCR was established to help resolve the mental health crisis affecting our nation’s military, veterans and first responders and their families, enabling them to live productive and fulfilling lives. BCR Progressive and Alternative Training for Healing Heroes (PATHH) programs are intended to promote and enable Posttraumatic Growth (PTG) and teach combat veterans and first responders how to succeed after trauma. To date, more than 500 combat veterans, family members, and first responders have attended PATHH and have seen significant results in regard to their mental health and well-being. Learn more about Boulder Crest Retreat and their programs at http://www.bouldercrestretreat.org/

PTSD Statistics at a Glance:

Find Treatment and Support for PTSD:

If you or someone you love is a struggling with PTSD, call the NAMI helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI to find a support group near you or search for Trauma Treatment Programs

Veterans struggling with PTSD can call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 (Press 1); call the Veteran Center Call Center hotline to talk with another combat veteran at 1-877-927-8387; or visit the VA PTSD Program Locator, https://www.va.gov/directory/guide/PTSD.asp, to find specialized VA PTSD treatment.