Department of Veterans Affairs Encouraging Community Support for PTSD Awareness Month

June is PTSD Awareness Month. The Department of Veterans Affairs is calling on communities to help raise awareness about PTSD. Talking about PTSD can help reduce stigma. If a loved one has been diagnosed with PTSD, let them know it’s OK to talk about it.

PTSD can develop in anyone who has experienced a traumatic event, such as a natural disaster, combat, sexual assault, or a serious accident. PTSD is a little more prevalent in veterans when compared to civilians. It is estimated that at some point in their life, 7 out of every 100 veterans will experience PTSD compared to 6 out of every 100 adult civilians.

PTSD symptoms fall into four main categories. You can learn more about these symptoms at the
National Center for PTSD.

• Reliving or re-experiencing the event
• Avoidance
• Negative changes in feelings and beliefs
• Hyperarousal or being on guard

VA’s National Center for PTSD offers a variety of resources related to PTSD and PTSD Treatment. By visiting their website, you can:

• Get help finding a VA PTSD program or a mental health care provider
• Learn about and compare PTSD treatment options with the PTSD Treatment Decision Aid
• Read Understanding PTSD and PTSD Treatment if you’ve been diagnosed with PTSD
• Read Understanding PTSD: A Guide for Family and Friends if a loved one has been diagnosed with PTSD
• Download PTSD Coach, a mobile app that can help you learn about your symptoms, develop skills to
  manage those symptoms, and track your progress over time
• Take a self-screen to find out if your feelings and behaviors may be related to PTSD

For Ohio veterans looking for more information or services, please contact your local County Veterans Service Office:

Allen County
301 N. Main St., Room 113
Lima, OH 45801
(419) 223-8522 or
(419) 228-3700 x 8819
Fax: (419) 223-8535

Auglaize County
209 S. Blackhoof St., Room 202
Wapakoneta, OH 45895
(419) 739-6750
Fax: (419) 739-6751

Hancock County
1100 E. Main Cross St., Ste. 123
Findlay, OH 45840
(419) 424-7036
Fax: (567) 250-9389

Hardin County
1 Court House Square, Ste. 120
Kenton, OH 43326
(419) 674-2219
Fax: (419) 673-8406

Logan County
121 S. Opera St.
Memorial Hall
Bellefontaine, OH 43311-2057
(937) 599-4221
Fax: (937) 592-1998

Marion County
Vets. Memorial Coliseum
220 E. Fairground St., Ste. 101
Marion, OH 43302
(740) 387-0100
Fax: (740) 387-1670

Union County
835 E. Fifth St., Ste. B
Marysville, OH 43040-1531
(800) 686-2308 or
(937) 642-7956
Fax: (937) 642-9282

Wyandot County
250 Highland Parkway, Ste. B
Upper Sandusky, OH 43351
(419) 294-2045
Fax: (419) 294-6416