Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a complex and serious disorder affecting Veterans from every conflict. VA is committed to providing the best care and resources for our Veterans that are diagnosed and deal with PTSD. We have made historic progress in PTSD treatments and are expanding access by increasing the number of mental health providers at VA medical centers. Learn more about VA's programs, support groups, and research aimed to helping those with PTSD.
"This nation has a solemn obligation to the men and women who have honorably served this country and suffer from the often devastating emotional wounds of war." ~ Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.
Make the Connection is a public awareness campaign by VA that provides personal testimonials and resources to help Veterans discover ways to improve their lives. Many of our Nation's Veterans—from those who served in World War II to those involved in current conflicts—return not only with physical wounds but also mental health issues they may not recognize.
About Face, a subsidiary of VA's National Center for PTSD, is dedicated to changing the lives of Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Here Vets can learn about PTSD, explore treatment options and, most importantly, hear stories from other Vets who have faced PTSD and regained control of their lives.
Strong at the Broken Places aims to break the pervasive stereotypes about the downtrodden Veteran that have persisted since the Civil War. When we're in uniform, we're considered heroes—often thanked for our service—but once we take off the uniform, the world sometimes views us differently. Given this environment, Veterans can be resistant to speaking openly about their military experiences in the classroom, at work, or with family and friends—thus hampering the reintegration process. At VA, we aim to break that cycle. One way we're trying to do that is with the launch of Strong at the Broken Places (SATBP). The idea is to convey to civilians and Veterans that success—and healing—after leaving the military is possible.