06/03/2026
June is Nationals PTSD Awareness Month and here at Thomaston Community Coalition we wanted to educate you on where the term came from.
Although often associated with combat veterans, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can impact any person of any age after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Such traumatic events might include military combat, sexual or physical violence, natural disasters, or severe accidents.
The term “PTSD” first appeared in 1980 in the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. However, earlier medical publications referred to conditions described as “soldier’s heart,” “shell shock,” and “war neurosis.” With the prevalence of PTSD in the military community, it is not surprising that the effort to create awareness was launched as a tribute to a service member. On June 27, 2010, PTSD Awareness Day was established in recognition of Staff Sergeant, Joe Biel, a National Guard service member who experienced PTSD after two tours in Iraq and died by su***de in 2007. In 2014, the federal government designated the entire month of June as PTSD Awareness Month.
Learn more at https://www.samhsa.gov/blog/posttraumatic-stress-disorder-awareness-month
