WHEREAS, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a significant public health concern affecting individuals from all walks of life, including military service members, veterans, civilians, and their families, and may develop following exposure to traumatic events such as war, natural disasters, sexual assault, physical abuse, or violent accidents; and

WHEREAS, PTSD is slightly more common among Veterans than civilians, affecting approximately 7 percent of Veterans and 6 percent of adults in the general population, with higher rates among female Veterans (13 percent) than male Veterans (6 percent), and with continued efforts to better understand its impact on transgender and non-binary Veterans; and

WHEREAS, research indicates that deployment increases the risk of PTSD, with Veterans who deploy being up to three times more likely to develop the condition than those who did not serve in combat roles during the same era, and that factors such as military occupation, the nature and location of the conflict, and operational conditions may contribute to PTSD and other mental health challenges; and

WHEREAS, many service members lack sufficient access to care and treatment of unresolved PTSD; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Veteran and Family Support Program at the Virginia Department of Veterans Services provides peer recovery support, care coordination, and community services to families coping with PTSD, and residents in crisis can call 988 to be connected to a trained mental health professional; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth remains steadfastly committed to supporting Virginia's veterans, military personnel, and civilians who struggle with PTSD through access to care, treatment, and mental health services;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Abigail D. Spanberger, Governor, do hereby recognize June 2026 as PTSD AWARENESS MONTH in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.