Skip to Content

Hope and healing: Initiatives for PTSD awareness and Veteran support

PTSD Awareness Month Banner
By D. Keith Johnson, Public Affairs Specialist

COLUMBIA, South Carolina -- Each June, as part of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month, the VA works to educate Veterans and community members on the resources available to those affected by PTSD.

PTSD is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, such as combat, sexual assault, a serious accident, or a natural disaster. 

“Of those who experience trauma, most do not develop PTSD,” said Elizabeth Codega, Outpatient Mental Health Coordinator at Columbia VA Health Care System. “Only 7% of all people develop PTSD in their lifetime. Among Veterans who receive treatment at the VA, 11% have PTSD and the overall rate is higher amongst Veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.” 

The VA provides PTSD health assessments and testing for Veterans and each VA medical center has dedicated PTSD specialists that provide regular outpatient care to Veterans. 

People who experience or witness a traumatic event often feel a range of emotional and behavioral symptoms after the event. They may feel fearful or jumpy, have disturbed sleep, or feel numb and detached. When those feelings and behaviors do not diminish over weeks or months, or if those thoughts and feelings disrupt daily life, it may be considered as PTSD.  

Common PTSD symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the traumatic event. 

PTSD can cause distress and interfere with functioning, making everyday routines including going to the grocery store, pumping gas, watching fireworks, or even hugging a friend seem impossible. Unfortunately, most people with PTSD don’t get the treatment they need.  

During PTSD Awareness Month, the VA works to reduce the stigma around mental health and encourages those experiencing PTSD—whether they are Veterans or non-Veteran survivors of trauma—to get screened and receive treatment.  

PTSD statistics for 2023 indicate the following: 

  • 3.6% of U.S. adults had PTSD in the past year 
  • Lifetime prevalence of PTSD was 6.8% 
  • 15% to 43% of girls and 14% to 43% of boys experience at least one trauma 
  • 3% to 5% of girls and 1% to 6% of boys who go through trauma develop PTSD 
  • 5% of Americans, or more than 13 million people, have PTSD at any given time 
  • 8.7% of all adults, or 1 in 13 people in the U.S., will develop PTSD at some point in their lifetime 

There are currently approximately 12 to 13 million people in the U.S. experiencing PTSD. Even though PTSD treatments work, most people who have PTSD don't get the help they need. 

“If you think you are experiencing symptoms of PTSD, talk to your primary care provider and/or mental health provider about available treatment options to get started,” added Codega. 

If you are a Veteran in crisis, the Veterans Crisis Line provides 24/7, confidential crisis support to Veterans and their loved ones regardless of if they are enrolled in VA benefits or health care. Veterans and their loved ones can reach the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 then pressing 1 or texting 838255.