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Getting Help With PTSD
 Anyone can acquire PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). First responders, such as police officers, firemen, and rescue workers, commonly acquire it because of the horrific sights and sounds that they encounter while doing what they do. Veterans often acquire PTSD because of their experiences on the battlefield, although support staff who have never seen combat can possibly acquire it, too. In this section we will explore some of the avenues open to both veterans and everyday citizens in acquiring help with what they believe is PTSD.
For everyday people, there are an assortment of helps, including the American Red Cross and the American Psychological Association. Contact information for both are included at the end of this article. For veterans, the VA (Veteran Affairs) provides an extensive network of PTSD programs in conjunction with many Vet Centers across the country. Through one of these PTSD programs a veteran can receive valuable education regarding PTSD, including how they can cope with it. In addition, they offer evaluation and treatment using a variety of mental health professionals from the fields of psychology, psychiatry, counseling, nursing, and social.
Help For Veterans
There are three basic programs offered by VA. They are OUTPATIENT, DAY HOSPITAL, and INPATIENT. Each of them are explained below.
OUTPATIENT: Veterans meet with PTSD specialists on a regular basis using one of three programs. PTSD Clinic Teams (PCTs) offer one-on-one and group evaluations, education, counseling, and psychotherapy. Substance Use PTSD Teams (SUPTs) provide outpatient education, evaluation, counceling, and other helps where it comes to PTSD and substance abuse. In addition, Women's Stress Disorder Treatment Teams (WSDTTs) offer female veterans evaluation, counseling, and psychotherapy on a one-on-one and group basis.
DAY HOSPITAL: This method consists of two basic programs, one canned DAY TREATMENT and the other RESIDENT PTSD. In the DAY TREATMENT PTSD Unit, the veteran is offered on-on-one case management and counseling, group therapy, educational opportunities, and activities all geared to help the veteran cope with his/her PTSD problem. Treatment and socialization events are conducted several times a day. In a RESIDENT PTSD program one-on-one case management and counseling, group therapy, education, and activites geared to improve the veteran's socialization skills and coping abilities are utilized. In this instance, the veteran lives in temporary, secured quarters without 24-hr. nursing services.
INPATIENT: Four programs are offered in this section where veterans are housed with 24-hr. nursing services provided. In a SPECIAL INPATIENT PTSD UNIT (SIPU) trauma-focused evaluations, education, and psychotherapy is provided for a period of 28 to 90 days. In the EVALUATION and BRIEF TREATMENT of PTSD Unit (EBTPU) the veteran is provided a PTSD evaluation, education, and psychotherapy for 14 to 28 days. In the PTSD RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION PROGRAM (PRRP), the veteran is evaluated, educated, and counseled. Case management geared to help the veteran resume a productive life are provided. The entire process lasts 28 to 90 days. Also the PTSD SUBSTANCE USE PROGRAM (PSU) involves the combined education, evaluation, and counseling for substance abuse and PTSD. In this program admission ranges from 14 to 90 days.
To inquire regarding one of the many VA PSTD programs listed above, contact your local Vet Center (check Vet Centers below). If it is necessary to obtain help from a private sector source, consider contacting the American Red Cross or the American Psychological Association. Contact information for both are included below.
Help For The Veteran --
Vet Center Help
Web: http://www.va.gov/rcs/
Phone: 1-800-827-1000, TTD: 1-800-829-4833
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