- PTSD Awareness Month is a time to learn about PTSD, spread helpful information, and encourage those with PTSD to seek care in order to reduce stigma.
- June is PTSD Awareness Month, with June 27th being National PTSD Awareness Day. The holiday was founded by the U.S. Senate in 2010.
- Symptoms of PTSD include hypervigilance, fear of situations or places that are similar to a traumatic event, trouble sleeping, and memory issue, among others.
- People often wear teal ribbons to commemorate PTSD Awareness Month and spread awareness.
It’s important to spread awareness about the prevalence of mental health issues and the negative effects of stigma surrounding them. This is why events like PTSD Awareness Month exist—to promote learning, growth, acceptance, and change within our cultures and society.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition caused by experiencing a traumatic event. PTSD can start to interfere with one’s routines and functioning if it goes untreated, causing symptoms like nightmares, anxiety, and avoidance of certain places or situations.
What Month Is National PTSD Month? Is June National PTSD Month?
Yes, June is PTSD Awareness Month. Throughout the month of June, people can participate in PTSD Awareness Month through spreading helpful information about PTSD, taking part in fundraisers or walks to spread awareness, or even simply taking time to learn more about PTSD themselves. Spreading awareness helps to counteract misinformation and reduce stigma surrounding mental health issues.
Though PTSD is often associated with veterans of war and military service, PTSD can manifest after experiencing any kind of traumatic event, such as physical abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence, getting into a near-fatal car accident, or being aggressively harrassed or bullied, among other causes. Signs of PTSD can include:
- Feelings of hopelessness, guilt, or shame
- Irritability, aggressiveness
- Memory issues
- Having nightmares about the event
- Hypervigilance; being easily startled
- Having flashbacks of the event
- Avoiding situations that remind you of the traumatic event
- Detachment from others
- Difficulty concentrating
- Feeling emotionally numb
- Difficulty maintaining close relationships
- Trouble sleeping
If you think you might suffer from PTSD, consider talking to a mental health professional about your symptoms. Trauma-informed therapy is one of the best ways to treat the effects of trauma and PTSD.
Is There a National PTSD Awareness Day?
National PTSD Awareness Day is on June 27th. This day was established by congress in 2010 in honor of National Guard Staff Sergeant Joel Biel, and it serves as an opportunity to increase public awareness about PTSD, reduce the stigma surrounding it, and encourage those who may be struggling with PTSD to seek help and support.
When Did June Become PTSD Awareness Month?
June has been recognized as PTSD Awareness Month since 2014. In that year, the United States Senate designated June as National PTSD Awareness Month, a decision that was approved by then-president Barack Obama.
Since then, it has been an annual opportunity to raise awareness about PTSD, its symptoms, and the importance of seeking mental health treatment for those who may be affected by it.
What Was PTSD Called Over the Years?
Throughout history, PTSD has been called many different things. The term “shell shock” was first used during World War I to describe the emotional and physical symptoms experienced by soldiers who were exposed to prolonged combat.
Post-Vietnam syndrome was a term introduced in the 1980s to describe the psychological symptoms experienced by Vietnam War veterans. People had also called PTSD “war neurosis” and “soldier’s heart.”
We know now that many different traumatic events can cause prolonged psychological distress aside from being a combat veteran, but PTSD is often thought of as a mental condition associated with veterans.
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Is There a Symbol for PTSD?
There are several symbols that are used to represent PTSD. There is a PTSD ribbon which is teal that symbolizes awareness and support for those who have PTSD. There is also a PTSD Warrior Symbol for military members and veterans. This displays a silhouette of a soldier with an American flag in the background to honor those who have served in the military and been affected by PTSD.
What Color Ribbon Is for PTSD?
Teal ribbons are used to represent PTSD and draw attention to PTSD Awareness Month. However, there is also a ribbon specifically for military veterans with PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) which is yellow and black.
