Since 2010 Congress has recognized June 27 as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day and in 2014 the Senate designated the entire month of June as a way to raise awareness and efforts to continue the conversation. The Central New York community is working together this month and beyond to help those suffering from the disorder.
Despite more dialogue, many, even those who don’t serve in the military, can and do suffer from PTSD which is why it’s important to continue to talk about it, experts say.
PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that can occur after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event such as serious accidents, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, physical or sexual assault, or military combat. PTSD involves a certain pattern of symptoms that have been present for longer than a few months, causes great distress, and/or interferes with your home or work life.
Ivan Castro is the project manager of the trauma research program at Syracuse University, and together with Karen Wolford who is the graduate trauma studies coordinator at SUNY Oswego, they will hold weekly informational sessions at Syracuse University’s Faulk College to help those suffering in Central New York.
“PTSD isn’t just one thing, to get diagnosed with PTSD is just a cluster of different symptoms that have a specific pattern,” Castro said.
Each discussion series is free and open to the public and brings together veterans and non-veterans in a safe setting to pursue trauma research activities.
“As part of this research training, we invite guests who have expertise in the area of PTSD to inform our research trainees on cutting edge developments on traumatic stress research,” Wolford said.
On Wednesday, June 13 US Air Force Veteran Scott Aubin will lead a discussion at 1:30pm about “dealing with unrecognized PTSD.” Additional discussions are planned for June 18th and June 25th, both at 1:30pm.
To learn more about PTSD and to help yourself or someone you know, visit ptsd.va.gov or call 1-802-296-6300.
If you or someone you know are thinking about harming themselves, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline right now at 1-800-273-8255.
