Throughout history, citizens and soldiers experiencing tumultuous life events have reported the unrelenting symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia, intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and suicidal idealizations of PTSD – Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
PTSD was first described in a poem by Hippocrates in 50 B.C., and then was dubbed “Shell Shock” and “Battle Fatigue” during WWI and WWII, before being termed “PTSD” during the Vietnam War in the 1970s.
Affecting nearly 6% of the U.S. population, anyone at any age can develop PTSD.
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a chronic mental health condition typically triggered by a life-altering experience, such as a natural disaster, warfare, serious accident, or physical or emotional abuse, to name a few examples.
Symptoms may arise within one to three months following a distressing event. Still, they can also come and go over time or take years to manifest, making day-to-day tasks challenging in personal, social, and professional settings.
Although PTSD therapies are effective, many affected people do not receive the help they need. That is why it is critical to spread the word and educate the community about this treatable illness, especially this month.
During PTSD Awareness Month, everyone can make a difference:
- Remove the stigmas by educating yourself
- Make self-care a priority
- Learn ways to help those who are close to you
- Make a request to your local congressman for help in improving mental health treatment in your state
We also hope you will consider helping us provide uncompensated care to those in need. Please consider making a gift today.
Another way you can make a difference is to shop on Amazon when doing your online shopping – All you have to do is sign up for Amazon’s Smile program and shop for your regular products. They will donate .5% of the price of your eligible purchases to the non-profit of your choice at no additional cost to you. Every little bit helps!
For more information, see: https://smile.amazon.com/charity?orig=%2F
To discuss other ways you can help support our mission, contact Meridian’s Advancement Department at (352) 374-5600, ext. 8630, or e-mail Sara_Desmartin@mbhci.org.
If you or someone you know is in crisis or just need to talk to someone, the following resources are available:
If you are experiencing a medical or life-threatening emergency, call: Emergency Services: 911
If you are feeling suicidal, depressed, anxious or have other urgent mental health concerns, call:
The Crisis Line: (352) 374-5600, option 1(NOTE: The Meridian Crisis Center is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year.)
For all others inquiries, please call:
Access Center:
New Clients (first time or 6+ months since last seen): (352) 374-5600, option 2
Returning Clients: (352) 374-5600, option 3
(NOTE: the Access Center is open from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.)
For more specific needs, call:
Toll Free: (800) 330-5615
Administration Fax: (352) 371-9841
Medical Records Fax: (352) 244-0289
TTY: (800) 955-8771
TTD: (800) 955-8770
Resources:
Mayo Clinic, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355967
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, PTSD: National Center for PTSD https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/what/ptsd_basics.asp
Anxiety & Depression Association of America, My Story of Survival: Battling PTSD by P.K. Philips https://adaa.org/living-with-anxiety/personal-stories/my-story-survival-battling-ptsd
National Today: https://nationaltoday.com/national-ptsd-awareness-month/