Bringing Awareness to PTSD

Memorial Day is a day to remember those who lost their lives in military service, but it's also a somber reminder for many soldiers that the war doesn't end on the battlefield. Many come back only to be faced with more hardship as they struggle with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

There's an average of 22 soldiers who take their own life every single day due to PTSD, according to the PTSD Foundation of America.

Veterans are trying to being awareness to this alarming statistic.

\"Memorial Day is more for the people that weren't able to make it back, killed in action, but it's also a day where you can talk to your fellow soldiers and be grateful that they are still here,\" said Army Veteran Jeremiah Cady.

Those that are still here don't always come back the same.

\"They never are, that's the biggest misfortune of PTSD,\" said Cady.

He knows this first-hand.

\"It's often been seen as weak or being a coward and its not, not everybody deals with trauma the same way,\" said Cady.

He suffers from PTSD.

An IED went off while he was overseas leaving him with long-term nerve damage.

\"In 2007, when I was in Iraq,\" said Cady.

It isn't easy for him to talk about, but he knows he has a strong support system.

\"I'm blessed with my family. They have helped me out quite a bit,\" said Cady.

He encourages soldiers who are suffering from PTSD to reach out to their local American Legion chapter to get the help they need.

Share this article: