Relief from PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder is one that approximately 7.7 million American adults will suffer from in any given year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Portland State’s Student Health and Counseling Center is a touch-point for students in need of treatment for PTSD.

Kevin Hershey, PSU Student Veteran Association president, said, “One of the goals of the SVA is to be available to those who just need someone to talk to.”

He said the group is a social outlet where veterans can find people who have had similar experiences.

Hershey said a counselor from SHAC is available in the SVA office every Wednesday from 3–4 p.m. Student veterans might also be referred to the Veterans Affairs Medical Center or Military OneSource, a counseling program for military employees and families.

Jessica Cole, SHAC assistant director, said, “We actively promote the continual education and training of our staff regarding any and all issues that may affect our student body population. This is especially relevant considering the number of veterans returning to school.”

Cole said students who feel they need to be seen at SHAC right away for mental health will meet with a Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) on-call clinician. “We have a senior staff member available during business hours for any student who [needs] a brief consultation on an immediate basis,” Cole said.

Dana Tasson, clinic director for counseling and psychological services at SHAC, said, “Our goal is to meet the specific treatment needs of each student. CAPS staff is actively seeking and attending additional trainings to help us learn more about the specific needs of veterans on campus.”

If a student does not need immediate care, SHAC will set up an appointment with a CAPS clinician. If it is determined that a student’s needs fall outside the capability of CAPS, the student will be referred to an outside Aetna Student Health network provider.

Tasson said, “While we cannot provide all the different kinds of treatment needed by the PSU student population, we do a good job of assessing student needs and making proper referrals if we cannot meet those needs.”

If a student is wary of coming to CAPS to talk to a counselor in that setting, Tasson said that CAPS runs a program called “Let’s Talk” where counselors are available at different locations throughout campus for informal conversations about mental health issues and counseling needs.

She said, “It can be a great first step for some students who are not yet ready to come to the center.”

In a study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, researchers found that the average age of PTSD onset is 23, although it can occur at any age. Survivors and witnesses of terrorist attacks or natural disasters frequently suffer from PTSD and other anxiety disorders. War veterans, survivors of abuse and survivors of accidents can also suffer from PTSD.

Although many people get better on their own in the weeks and months following trauma, not everyone does. A study of Hurricane Katrina survivors found that, as time went on, more people were suffering from PTSD, not fewer. The slow recovery of the community resulted in lost jobs, housing and schools, adding to the problems survivors were already facing.

The impact of war on soldiers is still not fully understood. A 2006 study found that 19 percent of Vietnam veterans experienced PTSD after the war.

“[PTSD] seems to be an issue that everyone knows exists, but there is a lot of uncertainty right now about the demand for, type and effectiveness of counseling,” Hershey said.

For more information on treatment for specific traumatic events go to www.pdx.edu/shac/mentalhealth.

More campus resources
Women’s Resource Center 503-725-5672
Queer Resource Center 503-725-9742
Student Veteran Association 503-725-9807
Multicultural Center 503-725-5342

Symptoms of PTSD
1. Re-experiencing symptoms:
Flashbacks—reliving the trauma over and over, including physical symptoms like a racing heart or sweating
Bad dreams
Frightening thoughts
2. Avoidance symptoms:
Staying away from places, events or objects that are reminders of the experience
Feeling emotionally numb
Feeling strong guilt, depression or worry
Losing interest in activities that were enjoyable in the past
Having trouble remembering the dangerous event
3. Hyperarousal symptoms:
Being easily startled
Feeling tense or “on edge”
Having difficulty sleeping, and/or having angry outbursts

—www.nimh.nih.giv