In This Issue

Feature Topic

PTSD and Families

Family can be a source of support and strength. But Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can take a toll on the most caring family.

Living with someone who is easily startled, has nightmares, feels detached from others, and avoids social situations can be difficult and stressful.

Introducing PTSD Family Coach

This free mobile app provides extensive information about PTSD, how to take care of yourself, how to take care of your relationship with your loved one or with children, and how to help your loved one get the treatment they deserve.

The app also provides a great deal of information that is specific to Veterans and active duty members of the military.

PTSD Family Coach includes 24 unique tools to help you manage stress including:

• mindfulness exercises
• tools to help you re-build your social networks
• tools to help with difficult thoughts and emotions you may be experiencing

The app also provides a way for you to track your stress level over time, using scientifically valid measures, and can provide specific feedback about your progress. PTSD Family Coach offers a number of ways for you, and your loved one, to connect with support.

Find out more about the Family Coach App.

Download the Family Coach App (iOS version). The Android version will be available later this year.

Resources for Family Members

Learn about:

• The effects of PTSD on relationships
• Common reactions that family members may have and how children may respond
• How to respond to a loved one with PTSD and how to take care of yourself

Reach Out:

• Help your Veteran get care
• Get connected with VA's Coaching Into Care - a free and confidential coaching service to help you talk with a Veteran in your life about your concerns and about treatment options
• Hear from family members of Veterans about the impact of PTSD and how treatment helped turn things around

Resources for Military Families

• Learn ways to cope when a family member is called to war
• Get help when your loved one is Returning From the War Zone
• Strengthen Parenting Skills with a free online course and the Parenting2Go iOS mobile app

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For Providers

Because PTSD and other trauma reactions change how a trauma survivor feels and acts, traumatic experiences that happen to one member of a family can affect everyone else in the family.

Get an overview of:

• The effects of PTSD on family members and how you can help
• How deployment can affect children and families

PTSD Lecture Series

Free continuing education credits for our monthly lecture series:

5/18 at 2 pm ET - Sara Landes, PhD on Chain Analysis: An Assessment Strategy for Targeting Trauma-Related Therapy

• Non-VA Providers: Register at TRAIN.
• VA Providers: Register at TMS.

Mark your calendar for the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 2 pm ET.

Subscribe to receive monthly emails that include a registration link and instructions for joining the live lectures.

Consult with PTSD Experts

The PTSD Consultation Program offers free PTSD consultation to any provider who treats Veterans in any setting. This program is now open to Community Providers.

Have a question about PTSD? Contact us:
Call 866-948-7880 or
Email PTSDconsult@va.gov

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Research at the Center

Use of Mobile Apps for those with PTSD and their Partners

Researchers are investigating the use of mobile apps designed to help couples manage symptoms and seek evidence-based treatment for PTSD. The ongoing study looks at how PTSD Coach and PTSD Family Coach can reduce PTSD symptoms and improve relationship quality in Veterans and their intimate partners.

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PTSD in the News

Sexual assault in military tied to Veterans' homelessness. An article posted April 21, 2016 on the Military Times website quoted Dr. Amy Street, Deputy Director of the National Center for PTSD's Women's Health Sciences Division, explaining why military sexual assault is a strong predictor for PTSD and other mental health problems. Read more.*

Be sure to forward this update to others so they can subscribe. We send one update per month to keep you informed of the latest PTSD developments.

Thank you,

The Staff of VA’s National Center for PTSD

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