Resources for Veterans Battling PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can occur when an individual experiences a traumatic event like combat, military sexual trauma, violence, and terrorism. It is normal for most people to have a stress reaction after a traumatic experience. But, if the reaction doesn’t dissipate or begins to disrupt daily life, then you may have PTSD. According to the National Center for PTSD, eight out of every 100 veterans have PTSD.

If you or a fellow comrade is struggling with PTSD, here are nine organizations that can help in no particular order:

1. National Veterans Foundation

The National Veterans Foundation’s (NVF) Lifeline for Vets helps veterans of all eras, their family members, and active duty service members, some while serving overseas in combat deployments. The Lifeline for Vets assists veterans with needs including medical treatment, PTSD counseling, VA benefits advocacy, food, shelter, employment, training, legal aid, suicide intervention, and more.

2. Cohen’s Veteran Network

The Cohen Veterans Network provides high-quality, accessible, and integrated mental health care. Through their client-centered, customized outpatient care, they support veterans and their families as they strive for healthy and happy lives.

3. Open Path Psychotherapy Collective

Open Path Psychotherapy is a nonprofit foundation that networks local psychotherapists and mental health experts to provide psychotherapy services at a greatly reduced cost. Individual, group, family, and marital counseling options are available.

4.  National Center for PTSD

A part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Center for PTSD provides resources and information to improve patient care through research, education, and training in the diagnosis of PTSD.

5.   National Alliance on Mental Health

This website provides veterans with a comprehensive list of resources. They provide answers to questions many are afraid to ask such as: Who should I tell? How will asking for treatment affect my career? What are the dangers of not disclosing?

6.  Give an Hour

This organization has developed a national network of professional volunteers capable of delivering mental health care to veterans, service members, and their families. They work with various government, corporate, and non-profit partners at the local, state, and national levels. Give an Hour provides a range of mental health services to local communities throughout the nation.

7.  National Resource Directory

A partnership among the U.S. Department of Defense, Department of Labor, and Department of Veterans Affairs, this website pools information from federal, state, and local levels.  They provide a comprehensive resource for veterans, active-duty military, and their families on everything from PTSD services to caregiver support.

Suffering from PTSD can be a lonely and isolating experience. The first step to getting well and learning how to manage your symptoms is to ask for help. There is absolutely no shame in admitting that you may not be able to cope by yourself. Know that you are not alone and use these resources to contact professionals who are ready to help.

Have You Heard About Rally4Vets?

Rally4Vets is our program to provide motorsports enthusiasts – racers and people who just enjoy driving – the opportunity to support the disabled veteran community.

Our competition program is the annual DVEN/Rally4Vets Top Dog Championships.  The format is a time trial on an actual race track but with one car on the track at a time.  Both experienced and first-time drivers compete on an equal basis.  Full details are on the event website at Rally4Vets.com.

We’re on a mission to support veteran organizations providing cost-free service dogs to veterans coping with PTSD.  We hope you will join us as a participant or spectator to cheer on your service team.

Rally4Vets.com