June 27 is National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Screening Day. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers an online screening tool for those who may be experiencing symptoms.
The VA website says it is the world’s leading research and educational center of excellence on PTSD and traumatic stress, and explains “PTSD is a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening or traumatic event.”
The VA reports that 23% of Veterans using VA care have had PTSD, compared to 7% of those not using VA care. In 2021, of the 6 million Veterans served by the VA Health system, about 10% of men and 19% of women were diagnosed with PTSD. The VA suggests talk therapy, medication, and other treatments are available for people experiencing PTSD.
A 2023 study published by the American Psychological Association found that veterans who received service dog placements had better emotional health, improved quality of social interactions, and lower odds of panic attacks. K9 for Warriors shared the story of Kerry, a Virginia resident, mother, Marine veteran, and former first responder. She received Bass, her certified service dog from K9s for Warriors, the nation’s largest shelter-to-service organization, said publicist Olivia Stern.
Kerry had many traumatic experiences in her career and found K9s For Warriors online when searching for help. The organization paired her with rescue-turned-Service Dog Bass, who is specially trained to help PTSD or other war-related traumas that afflict veterans. During their first night together, Bass woke Kerry up from a nightmare. Kerry said she and Bass are now a team that tackles everyday situations that previously seemed impossible.
The VA encourages those who may have experienced traumatic events to consider taking the self-screening test, reaching out to medical providers, and talking to friends or family. The VeteransCrisisLine is available for veterans and their families.
Kelly Sienkowski is a freelance reporter for Potomac Local News. If you’re not getting our FREE email newsletter, you are missing out. Subscribe Now!
Deputies from the Stafford County Sheriff's Office intervened in a teen suicide attempt on Wednesday afternoon.
On January 17 at 2:30 p.m., deputies responded to a distress call from a teenager contacting the suicide crisis hotline. Rushing to an undisclosed school in south Stafford, they found the juvenile hanging from playground equipment with a belt around his neck.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin praised the Prince William County Crisis Receiving Center, which will house adults and children having mental breakdowns.
Youngkin joined other state and local leaders today, Thursday, May 11, 2023, at 11:45 for a ceremonial groundbreaking for the 79,000-square-foot center that will replace a Gander Mountain store at 14040 Worth Avenue. He called the plans for the center a model that localities in the rest of the state would copy and use.
This article requires a paid Locals Only Membership to read. Please Sign In or Upgrade to a paid membership. Thank you.
Prince William County taxpayers own the Incredible Universe building, most recently used as a Gander Mountain store.
The county purchased a 155,000-square-foot building near Potomac Mills mall, at 14041 Worth Avenue, for just over $15 million. Last year, it signed a $10 million, 11-year lease on the building to open a crisis receiving center (other than a hospital or jail) where police can take those suffering mental breakdowns for help.
This article requires a paid Locals Only Membership to read. Please Sign In or Upgrade to a paid membership. Thank you.
The store will be the future site of a new Prince William County Government crisis receiving center designed to help residents experiencing a mental breakdown. The center will provide a place, other than a hospital or jail, for patients to receive help and recover.
More in a press release:
As Prince William County’s new Crisis Receiving Center and Community Services Building continues to be built, Prince William County and Potomac District Supervisor Andrea Bailey welcomed Senator Tim Kaine for a tour and round table discussion on Monday, March 20, 2023.
The Crisis Receiving Center, located on Worth Avenue in Woodbridge, will address the well-being of people experiencing a behavioral health crisis. The walk-in center will have 16 beds for adults experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis who need intervention and 23 recliners where people can receive assessment and treatment for up to 23 hours. The CRC will also help divert people from the criminal justice system.
Supervisor Bailey and Community Services Director Lisa Madron led Senator Kaine and other stakeholders on a tour of the Crisis Receiving Center. Following the tour of the facility, Senator Kaine joined Supervisor Bailey and Madron, as well as several county and state officials, community leaders and subject matter experts, for a Mental Health Round Table Discussion. The discussion focused on rising mental health issues and resources to combat this crisis affecting Prince William County residents and Virginians.
“We were honored to host Senator Kaine and share the county’s progress on the Crisis Receiving Center,” said Supervisor Bailey. “Champions of this project have helped to secure federal, state and local funding essential in opening the Crisis Receiving Center later next year.”
Funding for the facility was announced in a press conference in July 2022, and Connections Health Solutions was selected as the vendor to operate the Crisis Receiving Center in November 2022. On May 11, 2023, the Department of Community Services will host a Dedication and Intention Setting Ceremony on-site. The ceremony is intended as the first step in actualizing the vision of the CRC in changing how the community sees, treats and supports those in mental health crisis.
In January, Stafford County Sheriff's Deputies spent more hours than there are in a month sitting with mental patients handcuffed to hospital beds.
Now leaders in Stafford County are taking seriously the number of mental health calls to which law enforcement must respond and the region's lack of mental health services.
