Research News

U.S. Post Office Announces New Healing PTSD Stamp to Help Fund VA Research

December 5, 2019

The U.S. Postal Service has introduced a new “Healing PTSD” stamp to help raise funds to help those afflicted with PTSD. Funds raised will go to VA’s National Center for PTSD – the world’s leading research and educational center for excellence on PTSD and traumatic stress. PTSD affects millions of Veterans.

• Operations Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Enduring Freedom (OEF): About 11-20 out of every 100 Veterans (or between 11-20%) who served in OIF or OEF have PTSD in a given year.
• Gulf War (Desert Storm): About 12 out of every 100 Gulf War Veterans (or 12%) have PTSD in a given year.
• Vietnam War: It is estimated that about 30 out of every 100 (or 30%) of Vietnam Veterans have had PTSD in their lifetime.

HSR&D Research on PTSD

HSR&D conducts an ongoing array of research on PTSD, with topics ranging from Peer Support across the Continuum of PTSD Care to Optimizing VA Specialized Inpatient PTSD Programs to Access to Care for Veterans with PTSD. HSR&D investigators also have conducted studies on the Benefits and Harms of Cannabis for PTSD, PTSD as a Risk Factor for Pregnant Women, and Evidence-based Psychotherapy for Veterans with PTSD to name a few. In addition, HSR&D funds the Center for Mental Healthcare and Outcomes Research (CeMHOR).

The new Healing PTSD semipostal stamp (stamp issued to raise money for a particular purpose), which costs 65 cents, features Mark Laita’s photo illustration of a green plant sprouting from the ground – an image intended to symbolize the PTSD healing process of growth and hope.