June Declared PTSD Awareness Month

The Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder have declared June: “PTSD Awareness Month”. PTSD is often a misunderstood challenge that affects the members of our Armed Forces, and its prevalence is frequently underestimated. PTSD Awareness Month was established to provide information on this disorder and to connect those who are in need with the available resources.

As a part of our mission, AFA created our Wounded Airman Program to provide programs and resources that support our Airmen who are fighting this invisible war. The Wounded Airman Program includes taking care of the seriously ill and injured, and those challenged by PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury, and other wounds that are not visibly seen.

PTSD affects approximately 20 percent of our service members, and can be a result of exposure to combat or a life-threatening event. Stress reactions such as nightmares, increased anxiety, and reliving a traumatic event can be symptoms of the condition if they persist over a longer period of time.

Resiliency is the ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change. With the recent shift in focus towards improving quality of life, the United States Air Force has developed a new program called Comprehensive Airman Fitness (CAF) that aims to create a new culture of sustaining resilient Airmen.

The four pillars of the program encourage Airmen to focus on mental, physical, social, and spiritual areas of life to develop the skills to overcome adverse or traumatic events in their lives. In a statement by the USAF, Lt. Col. Gregory Laffitte, Headquarters Air Force Comprehensive Airman Fitness Branch Chief, says “we're creating a culture. We want to foster this Air Force community that's thriving."

Many Airmen who suffer from PTSD and TBI as a result of previous deployments, rely on the CAF program as a part of their recovery process.

If you are concerned that you or a loved one may be dealing with PTSD, we encourage you to seek treatment and support. The Air Force Wounded Warrior Program works to provide a number of resources to our Airmen as they continue on the path of rehabilitation, recovery, and reintegration. For more information on PTSD awareness and other available resources:

- http://www.militarymentalhealth.org/militaryptsd/

- http://www.ptsd.va.gov/about/ptsd-awareness/ptsd_awareness_month.asp

- http://www.womenshealth.va.gov/WOMENSHEALTH/ptsd.asp

- http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/understanding_ptsd/booklet.pdf

- http://www.realwarriors.net/

- If you are a woman Veteran, family member or caregiver, and need assistance, please call the Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255