PTSD Awareness Festival offering a fun weekend while offering veterans assistance with mental health

BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) – June is post-traumatic stress disorder awareness month.

According to the Mayo Clinic, PTSD “is a mental health condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it.” Symptoms of PTSD can include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the event.

PTSD is becoming increasingly more common among U.S. veterans when they return from duty.

PTSD is also proving to not only hinder veterans’ mental state, but their physical state as well.

Gordon Ross Jr., WV co-state leader of Mission 22, said, “On average, 22 veterans take their lives a day by suicide, and some of it’s based on PTSD and TBI, and just depression and bad things. So, on June 22 ^nd , we’re having this fair and we want some veterans to come out. We are going to give away some free prizes and we do not want it just to be veterans. I would like the community to come and support our veterans.”

To help raise awareness, Beckley’s City National Bank and Cross Point Church will be hosting the PTSD Awareness Fair from 11-2 on June 22 ^nd at Cross Point Church.

This fair will offer food trucks, a Jeep show, and outlets for veterans to get help with their PTSD.

They are accepting 25 Jeeps for the Jeep Show. Due to the small amount of cars being accepted, there is a 4 in 25 chance for an entry to win an award.

The event is free, but they are asking for $20 per Jeep entry. This fee will go straight to Mission 22.

Mission 22 provides support to veterans and their families, as well as their communities. They also help with veterans’ mental and emotional health.

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