Raising Awareness of PTSD Associated with Mass Violence or Natural Disasters

Each June, SAMHSA works with National Center for PTSD in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to raise awareness of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD refers to a mental health condition that some people develop after witnessing or experiencing a life-threatening or unusually violent event. Although PTSD is often associated with military combat, it can have many causes, including domestic violence, abuse or neglect, sexual assault, accidental injury or natural disasters.