VA Develops PTSD Smartphone App

The following statement is from Sen. Robert Casey’s blog:

As our brave men and women who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan return home, we are unfortunately seeing a large number of veterans suffering from symptoms associated with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD is the most prevalent mental disorder among returning service members. Symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, intrusive recollections or re-experiencing of the traumatic event, avoidance and numbing.

I firmly believe in our commitment to helping those who have served, especially those coping with devastating physical and psychological injuries and illnesses as a result of their combat service. That is why I am so pleased to see that the PTSD Coach smartphone application (app), that was developed by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense, has already helped so many people. This app, available for smartphones, has already helped more than 5,000 people connect with the mental health services and resources they need. This program allows users to track their symptoms, teaches strategies on how to manage PTSD symptoms and provides information on support resources and crisis lines.

To learn more about the PTSD Coach app visit the VA’s National Center for PTSD Website.