Soldiers Raising Awareness of PTSD

Soldiers Raising Awareness of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
June 27 declared PTSD Awareness Day by US Senate

Published : Monday, 27 Jun 2011
Bob Barnard
bob.barnard@foxtv.com
By BOB BARNARD/myfoxdc

WASHINGTON - Did you know that June 27 is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day and it has been declared so by the United States Senate?

North Dakota Sen. Kent Conrad sponsored the resolution honoring the efforts of a North Dakota Army National Guard unit that is trying to spread awareness of PTSD after one of their own, Sgt. Joe Biel, killed himself while battling PTSD.

June 27 was Sgt. Biel's birthday.

"We have a problem with mental health stigma in this country," says Tom Tarantino of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. "We don't talk about it. We don't look at it the same way we look at physical wounds. It's not something that we're all aware of."

"It is treatable," says Army Sgt. Juan Alcivar. "As long as you just take it one step at a time."
Alcivar has suffered from PTSD since 2007 when he was wounded in Iraq.


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