PTSD Screening Day: Take the first step
The VA's National Center for PTSD is encouraging all veterans who have experienced trauma to get screened for post-traumatic stress disorder on June 27, National PTSD Screening Day, though the screening is available year-round. The initiative aims to help veterans take the first step toward treatment by learning whether their symptoms might be PTSD, a treatable mental health condition that affects many who have experienced or witnessed life-threatening events such as combat, natural disasters, car accidents, or sexual assault.
PTSD is a mental health problem that involves reliving traumatic events, avoiding reminders of the trauma, experiencing more negative thoughts and feelings, and feeling constantly on edge or watchful for danger. According to Dr. Paula Schnurr, executive director of the National Center for PTSD, the condition is a normal response to trauma rather than a sign of weakness, and effective treatment is available. For many veterans, simply having a diagnosis can bring relief, as Navy Veteran Tia Christopher explained when she said learning she had PTSD meant she "wasn't crazy" and was glad there was a name for what she was experiencing.
The screening process is straightforward and accessible to all veterans, regardless of when their trauma occurred or what type of trauma they experienced. The Primary Care PTSD Checklist, known as the PC-PTSD-5, consists of just five questions that ask about traumatic experiences and how they may have affected you in the past month. Veterans who answer yes to three or more questions may have PTSD and should schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider, though even those who answer yes to only one or two questions can still seek help if the symptoms are bothersome.
Veterans have multiple pathways to access support after screening. Every VA medical center offers veteran-specific mental health services, and the VA provides tools like the updated PTSD Treatment Decision Aid to help veterans explore their options. For those not yet ready to speak with a provider, resources include the newly updated PTSD Coach app for learning about and managing symptoms, and the AboutFace website where veterans share their recovery stories. Veterans can bring their completed screening results to appointments or simply tell their provider they completed a PTSD screen to start the conversation.
Family members and friends also play a crucial role in supporting veterans through the screening and treatment process. The VA notes that loved ones often notice changes in trauma survivors first and can be valuable sources of comfort and support. As Dr. Schnurr pointed out, it's very common for veterans to enter treatment because of encouragement from their families. The VA offers an Understanding PTSD guide specifically designed to help family and friends recognize symptoms and provide appropriate support.
For disabled veterans already navigating the VA system, PTSD screening represents an important opportunity to address a condition that may be affecting daily functioning, relationships, and overall quality of life. PTSD can compound existing service-connected disabilities and may itself qualify for VA disability compensation if service-connected. Army Veteran Sherie Warner emphasized that struggling veterans deserve help and should take back their lives by asking for assistance.
Veterans concerned about PTSD symptoms should take the self-screening questionnaire available through the National Center for PTSD and discuss results with their primary care doctor or mental health provider. Those in crisis can contact the Veterans Crisis Line at 988, then press 1, for immediate confidential support from qualified responders, many of whom are veterans themselves.