Staff Perspective: The History of PTSD Awareness Month
We observe PTSD Awareness Month every year at CDP by writing new blogs about PTSD, offering several workshops on PTSD assessment and treatment during the month of June, and focusing our monthly CDP Presents webinar on the topic. Yet few of us (including myself) know the history of PTSD Awareness Month and how we came to observe it every year.
A brief history lesson
In 2010, former Senator Kent Conrad led legislature to name June 27th National PTSD Awareness Day. He was inspired to do so by North Dakota National Guard Staff Sergeant Joe Biel. SSgt Biel was a former paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne and served two tours in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was praised by fellow platoon members as a fun-loving, but detail-oriented mentor. SSgt Biel was later diagnosed with PTSD and died by suicide in 2007 (Plum, 2010). Senator Conrad suggested that SSgt Biel’s birthday, June 27th, serve as a day to raise public awareness of PTSD and treatment options, and reduce the stigma associated with asking for help.
In 2014, the U.S. Senate expanded upon Senator Conrad’s efforts and designated the month of June as annual National PTSD Awareness Month. Senate Resolution 481 (2014) describes the goals of PTSD Awareness Month in detail. In summary, the resolution aims to “raise public awareness about issues related to PTSD, reduce the stigma associated with PTSD, and help ensure that those suffering from the invisible wounds of war receive proper treatment.”
While it is understood that service members and veterans have high rates of trauma exposure and therefore greater vulnerability to PTSD, civilians also suffer trauma exposure and PTSD. One only needs to watch the news to see the wide range of trauma exposure experienced globally, from military invasions to school shootings to racially driven violence to sexual assault…. unfortunately the list seems endless. Fortunately, treatment is effective for both civilians and military-connected individuals.
CDP Observes PTSD Awareness Month
As with years prior, CDP is hosting a “PTSD Spotlight” on our website throughout the month of June. In addition to our existing blogs, resources, infographics, and webinars, we’ll be uploading new content this month as well. Check back throughout June for:
New blogs on PTSD and related issues
Our CDP Presents webinar on June 21. The title of this month’s webinar is “Treating PTSD and Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorders Using Prolonged Exposure.” You can register here and earn CE credits for attending the live event: https://deploymentpsych.org/CDPP-21-June-22
Consultation options for providers delivering evidence-based treatments for PTSD
Check out our consultation page (login required) for more information about our PE and CPT consultation groups: https://deploymentpsych.org/consultation-call
This year we’ve also partnered with our friends at the National Center for PTSD (NCPTSD) to promote Annual PTSD Screening Day. NCPTSD has made a free and confidential screening for PTSD available online. Visitors answer 5 questions to find out if they’re exhibiting signs of PTSD and are helped with finding a provider if they are. While National PTSD Screening Day now falls on June 27th, you don’t have to wait until then to share this resource with others. Access the screening now by clicking: https://ptsd.va.gov/screen/
You can find additional information and resources on the CDP's PTSD Awareness Spotlight page as well. We hope you’ll join us in raising awareness around PTSD and making effective treatments accessible to everyone.
The opinions in CDP Staff Perspective blogs are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Science or the Department of Defense.
Carin Lefkowitz, Psy.D., is a clinical psychologist and Senior Military Behavioral Health Psychologist at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland.
References
Plum, S. (2010, May 12). Motorcycle ride honors friend and raises awareness for PTSD. Consolidated Newspapers, Inc. https://www.bensoncountynews.com/2010/05/12/5122010-news/
S.Res.481 - 113th Congress (2013-2014): A resolution designating the month of June 2014 as "National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month". (2014, June 23). http://www.congress.gov/
We observe PTSD Awareness Month every year at CDP by writing new blogs about PTSD, offering several workshops on PTSD assessment and treatment during the month of June, and focusing our monthly CDP Presents webinar on the topic. Yet few of us (including myself) know the history of PTSD Awareness Month and how we came to observe it every year.
A brief history lesson
In 2010, former Senator Kent Conrad led legislature to name June 27th National PTSD Awareness Day. He was inspired to do so by North Dakota National Guard Staff Sergeant Joe Biel. SSgt Biel was a former paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne and served two tours in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was praised by fellow platoon members as a fun-loving, but detail-oriented mentor. SSgt Biel was later diagnosed with PTSD and died by suicide in 2007 (Plum, 2010). Senator Conrad suggested that SSgt Biel’s birthday, June 27th, serve as a day to raise public awareness of PTSD and treatment options, and reduce the stigma associated with asking for help.
In 2014, the U.S. Senate expanded upon Senator Conrad’s efforts and designated the month of June as annual National PTSD Awareness Month. Senate Resolution 481 (2014) describes the goals of PTSD Awareness Month in detail. In summary, the resolution aims to “raise public awareness about issues related to PTSD, reduce the stigma associated with PTSD, and help ensure that those suffering from the invisible wounds of war receive proper treatment.”
While it is understood that service members and veterans have high rates of trauma exposure and therefore greater vulnerability to PTSD, civilians also suffer trauma exposure and PTSD. One only needs to watch the news to see the wide range of trauma exposure experienced globally, from military invasions to school shootings to racially driven violence to sexual assault…. unfortunately the list seems endless. Fortunately, treatment is effective for both civilians and military-connected individuals.
CDP Observes PTSD Awareness Month
As with years prior, CDP is hosting a “PTSD Spotlight” on our website throughout the month of June. In addition to our existing blogs, resources, infographics, and webinars, we’ll be uploading new content this month as well. Check back throughout June for:
New blogs on PTSD and related issues
Our CDP Presents webinar on June 21. The title of this month’s webinar is “Treating PTSD and Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorders Using Prolonged Exposure.” You can register here and earn CE credits for attending the live event: https://deploymentpsych.org/CDPP-21-June-22
Consultation options for providers delivering evidence-based treatments for PTSD
Check out our consultation page (login required) for more information about our PE and CPT consultation groups: https://deploymentpsych.org/consultation-call
This year we’ve also partnered with our friends at the National Center for PTSD (NCPTSD) to promote Annual PTSD Screening Day. NCPTSD has made a free and confidential screening for PTSD available online. Visitors answer 5 questions to find out if they’re exhibiting signs of PTSD and are helped with finding a provider if they are. While National PTSD Screening Day now falls on June 27th, you don’t have to wait until then to share this resource with others. Access the screening now by clicking: https://ptsd.va.gov/screen/
You can find additional information and resources on the CDP's PTSD Awareness Spotlight page as well. We hope you’ll join us in raising awareness around PTSD and making effective treatments accessible to everyone.
The opinions in CDP Staff Perspective blogs are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Science or the Department of Defense.
Carin Lefkowitz, Psy.D., is a clinical psychologist and Senior Military Behavioral Health Psychologist at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland.
References
Plum, S. (2010, May 12). Motorcycle ride honors friend and raises awareness for PTSD. Consolidated Newspapers, Inc. https://www.bensoncountynews.com/2010/05/12/5122010-news/
S.Res.481 - 113th Congress (2013-2014): A resolution designating the month of June 2014 as "National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month". (2014, June 23). http://www.congress.gov/