WASHINGTON -- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is inviting rescue workers, children, survivors and family members who need help coping with the emotional trauma of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York City and the Pentagon to visit a special Internet site.
The VA Web page is available to everyone who visits the on-line information service at http://www.ncptsd.org/disaster.html. It is maintained by VA's NationalCenter for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
"The wounds of war aren't always visible," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi. "VA has always concerned itself with the unseen, emotional wounds of combat. That experience, along with VA-sponsored clinical research, is now at the service of all Americans in this time of need."
The categories of information on the Web page include, "Helping Survivors in the Wake of Disaster," "Terrorism and Children," "How Terrorist Acts May Affect Veterans," "Self-Care and Self-Help Following Disasters" and information tailored for the needs of rescue workers.
Among the nation's 25 million veterans are nearly 135,000 receiving VA disability compensation for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to their military service. Visits by veterans and family members for PTSD-related counseling at VA facilities totaled 890,000 last year.
