National PTSD Awareness Day is recognized annually on June 27th. It serves as a great opportunity to take the time to fully understand Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the impact it has, especially on young people. At Western Youth Services (WYS), we honor this day by raising awareness about PTSD symptoms, offering resources for youth and their families, and reinforcing that healing is possible with compassionate, trauma-informed care.
What Is PTSD?
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. It’s most often associated with adults and veterans, but PTSD also significantly affects both children and adolescents. Trauma in youth can come from a variety of sources including abuse, neglect, violence, accidents, natural disasters, or the loss of a loved one.
According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, more than 78 percent of children have reported experiencing more than one traumatic event before the young age of five (NCTSN). If these experiences are left unaddressed, they can deeply impact emotional development, academic performance, and even social relationships.
Recognizing PTSD Symptoms in Youth
Understanding PTSD symptoms in children and teens plays a crucial part for early intervention. Symptoms may include:
- Re-experiencing the trauma through nightmares or flashbacks
- Intense anxiety or fear especially when reminded of the trauma
- Avoidance of places or people related to the traumatic event
- Difficulty concentrating or sleeping
- Physical complaints like headaches or stomach aches
- Emotional numbness or detachment
- Irritability or anger outbursts
Young people experiencing these symptoms are not just “acting out” or “overreacting.” They are navigating the aftermath of trauma and deserve to be met with compassionate support not to be reprimanded.
The Impact of PTSD on Youth Mental Health
As previously stated, PTSD can affect a young person’s ability to thrive emotionally, socially, and academically. It can increase the risk of depression, anxiety, and substance use. Youth with PTSD may struggle with school attendance and performance, face challenges in forming or maintaining healthy relationships, and experience lower self-esteem or difficulties with identity development.
Despite facing these challenges, early intervention and supportive care can substantially improve outcomes. Research shows that trauma-informed approaches in schools and communities help youth build resilience and regain a sense of safety (SAMHSA).
How to Support Someone with PTSD
If you know an adolescent living with PTSD, your support can make a lasting difference. Listening without judgment and allowing them to express their feelings at their own pace is incredibly important. Offering consistency through routines can help provide a sense of stability and safety. It is essential to remain respectful of their personal boundaries and avoid forcing conversations about the trauma. Encouraging professional help is necessary, as therapists trained in trauma-informed care offer tools and strategies that can better aid healing. Educating yourself about what is PTSD can help to reduce stigma and foster more empathy.
Resources for Youth Living with PTSD
Healing from trauma is a journey no one should walk alone. Western Youth Services offers trauma-informed mental health services for youth and families throughout Orange County. Our programs include school-based mental health services, family and individual therapy, professional trainings in trauma-informed care, and early intervention and prevention programs. You can learn more about these services at www.westernyouthservices.org.
Other valuable resources include:
- The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) – which provides educational materials and toolkits on child trauma.
- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) – offers national helplines and guides on trauma-informed care.
- Teens can also find peer support through Teen Line (teenline.org).
On National PTSD Awareness Day, we take the time to honor the remarkable strength of each and every young person who has lived through trauma and continues to move forward. At Western Youth Services, we believe in the resilience of youth and the power of compassionate care.
If you or someone you know is experiencing PTSD symptoms, remember you are not alone. Help is available. Healing is possible. With the right support, every young person can thrive.
Visit www.westernyouthservices.org to learn more about our programs or contact us to help navigate mental health services for your child or family.
Sources:
- https://www.samhsa.gov/resource/dbhis/ptsd-children-adolescents
- https://www.apa.org/pi/families/resources/update.pdf
- https://www.nctsn.org/
- https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/resources/child_traumatic_stress_what_policymakers_should_know.pdf
- https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/trauma-violence/trauma-informed-approaches-programs
- https://www.teenline.org/
