Tomorrow, June 27, is National PTSD Awareness Day.
It is a day with a name and a story behind it — and both matter.
National PTSD Awareness Day was created in honor of Staff Sergeant Joe Biel, an Army National Guard soldier from North Dakota. Joe struggled with PTSD after returning from deployment. He died by suicide on June 27, 2007 — his birthday. His family fought to have the day recognized so that no other veteran would have to suffer in silence, and so that no other family would have to bear that kind of loss.
June 27 is Joe’s birthday. And every year on this day, we honor him by making sure other veterans know they don’t have to fight alone.
PTSD Is Not a Character Flaw
Let’s say that clearly and without qualification: PTSD is not weakness. It is not a failure of will or toughness. It is a normal human response to abnormal experiences.
The men and women who come home from combat carrying the weight of what they’ve seen and done are not broken. They are human. And humans are not designed to absorb the kinds of trauma that war inflicts without consequence.
For too long, a culture of silence around mental health has kept veterans from seeking the help they need. Too many have told themselves to “push through it” or that asking for help means they’re not strong enough. That culture has cost lives — including Joe Biel’s.
If you are a veteran living with PTSD: you are strong enough to ask for help. In fact, reaching out is one of the hardest and bravest things a person can do.
What PTSD Can Look Like
PTSD doesn’t always look like what movies portray. It can be quiet, internal, and invisible to the people around you. You may recognize some of these experiences:
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- Reliving traumatic events through intrusive memories, nightmares, or flashbacks
- Avoiding anything — people, places, sounds, smells — that reminds you of the trauma
- Feeling emotionally cut off, numb, or disconnected from people you love
- Feeling constantly on guard, jumpy, or unable to relax
- Difficulty sleeping, concentrating, or managing anger
- Feeling guilty or blaming yourself for things that happened
- Loss of interest in activities that used to bring you joy
If any of these feel familiar, please know: effective treatment exists, and people get better.
Treatments That Work
The VA and mental health community have made real advances in PTSD treatment. Some of the most effective evidence-based options include:
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
A structured therapy that helps you examine and reframe the thoughts and beliefs that developed as a result of trauma. Typically 12 sessions.
Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy
Gradually helps you confront trauma-related memories and situations you’ve been avoiding, reducing their power over time.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
Uses guided eye movements while recalling traumatic memories to help reduce their emotional intensity.
Medication
Certain antidepressants (SSRIs and SNRIs) have been shown to reduce PTSD symptoms and are often used alongside therapy.
Peer Support
Sometimes talking to another veteran who has been through it — and come through it — makes all the difference. Programs like the VA’s Peer Specialists and community organizations connect veterans with trained peers.
Get Help Now
Veterans Crisis Line
Available 24/7, free and confidential.
Call or text 988, then press 1
Chat: VeteransCrisisLine.net
Text: 838255
Boise VA Medical Center — Mental Health Services
(208) 422-1000
500 W Fort St., Boise, ID 83702
Idaho Vet Centers
Community-based counseling for veterans in a non-clinical setting.
Boise: (208) 342-3612
Pocatello: (208) 232-0316
Post Falls: (208) 664-5767
Twin Falls: (208) 734-7833
For Family Members and Friends
If someone you love is a veteran struggling with PTSD, you are not powerless. Some of the most important things you can do:
Listen without judgment. You don’t need to have the right words. Just being present matters.
Don’t push. Let them share when they’re ready. Pressure can backfire.
Learn about PTSD. Understanding what your loved one is experiencing helps you respond with compassion rather than frustration.
Take care of yourself. Supporting someone with PTSD can be exhausting. You deserve support too. The VA Caregiver Support Program can help: 1-855-260-3274.
Know the warning signs of crisis — and have the Veterans Crisis Line number ready: 988, press 1.
In Memory of Joe Biel
On his birthday, we remember Staff Sergeant Joe Biel — and we carry forward the work his family started. Because of them, June 27 is a day when the nation stops and says: we see you. We hear you. We will not let you fight alone.
If you are an Idaho veteran living with PTSD, the DAV of Idaho wants you to know: we are here. Help is here. And your life matters.
If you are in crisis, please call or text 988 and press 1 now.
The DAV of Idaho is committed to supporting the mental health and well-being of Idaho’s veterans. Visit dav-idaho.org or call (208) 429-2140.