June is “Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month” and today (June 27, 2022) is PTSD Screening Day. Both offer the opportunity to reflect on the causes, symptoms and treatment of post-traumatic stress injuries.
PTSI, which is commonly known as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury, is a normal reaction to abnormal circumstances and affects millions of Americans each year. It is most commonly associated with veterans – and has been known by many other terms, including shell shock and combat fatigue – but PTSI can affect anyone at any age.
“Our veterans face many life-changing and dangerous situations when they put their lives on the line in defense of our nation’s freedoms,” said Greg Whitlock, Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs. “Raising awareness of PTSI is an important step in ensuring veterans have the support they need to make a successful transition back to civilian life. This will help with increased understanding of unseen emotional struggles resulting from PTSI and is critical to the health and well-being of our returning heroes.”
It is estimated that 10-30% of service members and veterans experience symptoms of PTSI.
“Every veteran processes their military experiences differently, but for those that are experiencing nightmares, flashbacks, irritability or other symptoms of PTSI, help is available,” said Whitlock.
Specialized treatment for PTSI is available through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at https://www.ptsd.va.gov/.
