Education Initiatives
Education Initiatives
The National Center for PTSD's educational mission is to improve PTSD outcomes by developing and disseminating authoritative programs and information on PTSD and related conditions, synthesized from published scientific research and collective clinical experience. The Center serves as a centralized resource on PTSD to a broad audience that includes clinicians and other mental health care providers, policymakers, educators, Veterans, trauma survivors and their families.
Many of our educators are themselves researchers who can move seamlessly between scientific inquiry and educational product and program development. In this way, our educational portfolio operates at the intersection of research and practice.
The major focus of our education activities has always been America's Veterans and service members. To this end, we leverage the close relationships between our education staff and their counterparts throughout the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense to benefit to those priority populations. Over the years, it has become clear that our educational materials and programs can also be of help to anyone who has been exposed to traumatic events. For example, the value of providing authoritative information on disaster mental health for the public, community leaders, employers, and clinicians is of prime importance.
Our education efforts include a range of offerings—courses, brochures, videos, databases and more—that incorporate the most up-to-date knowledge gained from research. Flagship products include AboutFace, an online gallery of videos featuring Veterans, family members, and clinicians talking about PTSD and the value of treatment: the PTSD Treatment Decision Aid, for those exploring their treatment options; and a suite of self-help and treatment companion apps. We are committed to raising PTSD Awareness to increase the visibility of PTSD and evidence-based treatments. Please view our Annual Reports for a yearly summary of our initiatives and accomplishments.
We also work to ensure professional and special provider populations involved with caring for Veterans and others who experience trauma have access to education and training opportunities. In particular, the Mentoring and Implementation, Consultation, and Tech into Care programs provide support for health care providers in the field.
PTSD Mentoring and Implementation Program
The PTSD Mentoring and Implementation program supports the effective delivery of evidence-based PTSD treatment in specialty clinics by sharing administrative strong practices, engaging in proactive networking, integrating new implementation strategies, and facilitating quality improvement.
PTSD Consultation Program
The PTSD Consultation Program offers providers who are working with U.S. Veterans free consultation with PTSD experts. Consultants answer questions about PTSD assessment and treatment, clinical practice, resources for PTSD care, administrative and programmatic issues, and improving care for Veterans. The Consultation Program also hosts a monthly lecture series featuring expert commentary on topics derived from consultation requests.
Tech into Care
Tech into Care facilitates the integration of technology into clinical care for PTSD and other mental health issues. The initiative unites practitioners, administrators, and researchers to improve the uptake of innovative practices and evidence-based interventions for Veterans. Tech into Care hosts a lecture series and podcast about how technology can help those who have, care for, or treat people with PTSD and related issues.
