June is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD Awareness Month. The United States Senate established June 27th as PTSD Awareness Day in 2010 to raise awareness of the mental health issues that can develop after exposure to traumatic events. PTSD can be triggered by various events and may show up immediately thereafter or after a period of time has elapsed. The month of June being designated is an attempt to emphasize the need to diagnose and treat those individuals and families impacted by PTSD. While as many as 44 million Americans are believed to have suffered a traumatic event in their lives, approximately 6 to 8% will develop PTSD. While there are numerous events that trigger the disorder, the rate is generally higher among certain groups of the population.
June 27th of this month the Marshall County Area Veterans Memorial Committee will have a program to further recognize PTSD with added emphasis on military veterans effected. The program will begin at 7:00 P.M. Part of the program will be the dedication of a bench and statue in honor of the Military men and women who have had or are currently suffering with symptoms of PTSD. The general public is invited to come out to join in the dedication of this special statue. It will be held on the west lawn of the courthouse in Warren surrounding the park. You will need to bring your own lawn chair for seating or just sit or stand on the lawn. The program will last approximately 30 minutes but will include legion clubs and military honors. Please plan to join in the events on the 27th. It is a chance to support one another as we acknowledge the need to better treat our emotional and mental health. If you need help or support dealing with mental health issues there are agencies available to assist you in northwest Minnesota. The Department of Human Services number is 1-800-282-5005. The Crisis/Suicide Prevention line you can call, text, or online chat by dialing 988. For military veterans the Wounded Warriors PTSD number is 1-888-997-2586.
