PTSD Awareness Month • 2026

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month is observed annually in June.

One of the most rewarding aspects of a career in Emergency Medical Services is that we are put into situations where we can and will save lives. The most obvious cases like performing CPR  or treating gunshot wounds often overshadow the routine daily tasks that also save lives. Things like our response time, patient assessments, and making sure that our rig is properly equipped are some of the basic tasks that ensure we are not forced into an emergency situation to begin with.

The likelihood that we will experience a traumatic event in EMS is high. In fact, around 80% of all first responders experienced an event described as traumatic in 2021. Thus, the likelihood that we will develop some form of post-traumatic stress disorder as a first responder is much higher than that of the general population.