Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month: Let’s Commit to Raising Awareness About Effective Treatments
By Chris Meek
It has often been said that “not all wounds are visible.” This is especially true in reference to the struggles that so many face in regards to their mental health. June is National Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) Awareness Month. This month it is of particular importance to highlight the invisible wounds that post-traumatic stress leaves so many veterans with.
We know that symptoms of PTS have emerged in an unfortunate number of veterans. According to statistics, 12-24% of veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom have experienced the effects of PTS, as have 12% of Gulf War veterans and an estimated 30% of Vietnam veterans.
PTS Awareness Month provides an opportunity to look inward to reflect on any “invisible” wounds we may bear. It’s also a good time to check-in on those closest to us who may be struggling. But sometimes that is easier said than done. As the stigma surrounding the discussion of mental health has decreased steadily in recent years, we have often been encouraged by experts, journalists, influencers, media and the like to check-in on others.
Sometimes this can be just as difficult as having to communicate to others how we are feeling. But it is necessary. The more we check-in on ourselves and others the easier and more comfortable the practice will become and the more likely it will become a habit.
Beyond checking in on ourselves and others and raising awareness about PTS throughout the month, I think it is important that we raise awareness about effective PTS treatments and technological advancements that have been made available.
One particularly effective and revolutionary advancement in the treatment of PTS in veterans that I would like to shine a light on is virtual reality therapy. I co-founded and serve as the chairman of SoldierStrong, a national nonprofit that works diligently to provide veterans grappling with PTS access to virtual reality therapy technology through the BraveMind program.
Virtual reality can be used to deliver prolonged exposure therapy – the practice of recalling a traumatic memory while talking through the nuances of that memory with a therapist – an evidence-based method for treating PTS. Utilizing virtual reality to deliver prolonged exposure therapy makes the process of recalling traumatic memories easier for veterans. To date, the BraveMind hardware and software has been donated to 13 VA Hospitals and other medical centers across the country, allowing a considerable number of veterans access to the revolutionary PTS treatment.
There are of course a number of treatment methods for PTS, as additional research is continually being conducted to provide new methods of treatment and improve the delivery of already existing treatments. It is important that veterans are aware of all of their options and that they have access to the resources that may be available in their area. The more options in treatment that veterans have access to, the more likely they will find the best method of treatment for them.
I implore everyone to take time this month to discover more about current treatment options for PTS and what methods may be available to you or your loved ones. If you would like to learn more about virtual reality to treat PTS, please visit SoldierStrong on the web.
