WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – June is PTSD Awareness Month, and mental health providers want people to know help is available.
Thousands of veterans call southeastern North Carolina home. For many, the hardest step is saying it out loud: “I’m not okay.”
Now, experts are stressing that the battle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can extend beyond those who served and that trauma can touch anyone.
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, seven out of every 100 veterans will deal with PTSD, and one in every 20 adults has PTSD in any given year.
Jason Black, program director at Coastal Horizons for Adult Residential and Community Treatment Services, said stigma still keeps people from seeking help.
Black said PTSD can be triggered by any event that feels threatening, and as more people experience trauma in their lives, the community has to keep pushing back against the stigma tied to mental health.
“Mental health care is here for everybody, everybody needs mental health care so reaching out if something feels off or wrong or family members are concerned is always going to be beneficial to the people who need the services,” Black said.
He said PTSD can take a toll on sleep, relationships, work and overall quality of life. If anxiety, flashbacks or withdrawing are getting in the way of work or social life, that’s the time to talk to a professional.
“The unbiased support of a therapist can be beneficial to everybody, and we want to make sure that everybody knows that those services are available in the community, whether it’s through Coastal Horizons or other private practitioners, people are out there to help and support,” Black said.
Black said if you or someone you love is noticing signs, don’t wait. If mental health is starting to affect day-to-day life, he said the time to act is now.
The area has resources ready, but it starts with one step: making the call, starting the conversation and letting someone in.
A Veteran Stand Down event. offer resources specifically for veterans, is scheduled for Friday, July 24, at the Starbase Wilmington National Guard Armory.
Click here for more support and resources for PTSD.
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