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June 2024 Mental Health Topics

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  • Posted 3 months ago

National PTSD Awareness Month
Alzheimer’s Awareness

National PTSD Awareness Month

What is PTSD? Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a psychiatric disorder that can occur from experiencing or witnessing a particular traumatic or distressing event once or repeatedly. 

Symptoms of PTSD:

  • Exaggerated startle response
  • Hyperalert
  • Difficulty thinking or making decisions
  • Poor emotional regulation 
  • Irritability
  • Engage in risky behaviors 
  • Engage in behaviors that aren’t typical of usual behaviors Source

How can PTSD affect your life?

  • Physically…increased in blood pressure & heart rate, fatigue, muscle tension, nausea, joint pain, headaches, inability to sleep or sleep well, back pain, and other types of unexplained pain
  • Emotionally…Overwhelmed, numb, dissociation, emotional dysregulation, fear, intrusive recollections, not connecting emotionally with loved ones
  • Cognitively…Misinterpretations of events, poor decision-making, intrusive thoughts, delusions, extreme guilt
  • Behaviorally… Doing things not typical of regular behavior, risky behavior, relationship violence, self-harm, distant, substance abuse Source

What to do next?

  • Don’t be afraid to ask for help 
  • See a doctor and mental health professional
  • Build a trustworthy support network 
  • Communicate concerns with family, friends, and workplace
  • Call 911 in an emergency 
  • Call the suicide hotline at 988

FACTS…

  • 70% of adults will experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime
  • 20% of that will develop PTSD
  • About 13 million people have PTSD in a given year
  • It is estimated about 5% of adolescents experience PTSD
  • PTSD is more common in women than in men
  • PTSD is often co-occurring with other mental health conditions Source

Helpful Videos…

Alzheimer’s Mental Health Awareness

What is it?

  • A type of dementia that affects memory, thinking and behavior

Symptoms

  • Memory loss 
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Finding it hard to carry out familiar tasks
  • Struggling to follow a conversation
  • Being confused
  • Mood changes Source

Facts…

  • More than 5 million people are living with Alzheimer’s
  • 1 in 3 seniors will develop Alzheimer’s or another dementia
  • Roughly about 15 million caregivers with about 18.1 billion hours of unpaid care
  • Alzheimer’s is the 6th leading cause of death in the U.S Source

Reducing the risk:

  • Be physically active, manage high blood pressure, manage blood sugar, and maintain a health weight.

how to help:

Reassure person, help them keep control of what they can in life, keep well-loved photographs and objects near, encourage two-way conversation, be patient, and avoid saying don’t you remember?

Helpline: 800-272-3900

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