(ALBUQUERQUE, NM) –Governor Susana Martinez joined New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services Cabinet Secretary Timothy Hale and the Directors of New Mexico’s Vet Centers to mark PTSD Awareness Day in New Mexico on June 27th.

“It is important that we never forget the sacrifices of our brave men and women in uniform,” said Governor Martinez at a ceremony “We must always do our best to provide for their care and well-being when they come home. PTSD is a serious disorder that needs to be recognized and addressed.”

In April, Governor Martinez signed HB 93 into law, which requires law enforcement officers to receive training in how interact with those who have PTSD or other mental illnesses. The law takes effect this Friday, July 1st.

“New Mexico is a leader among states in treating veterans diagnosed with PTSD,” said NMDVS Secretary Hale. “We are now offering an innovative approach that combines integrating traditional and non-traditional methods of treatment because we realize that we need to do everything we can to help heal our wounded warriors.”
This year, the New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services is co-presenting a series of ten Veterans’ Wellness Retreats in Angel Fire. The week-long retreats feature the integration of clinical methods with Yoga, Massage, Acupuncture, Meditation and other non-traditional modalities.

For many veterans who think they may be suffering from PTSD, Vet Centers are often the first stop for treatment. The centers were created by the U.S. Congress in response to the recognition that a significant number of Vietnam War veterans were still experiencing readjustment problems four years after the U.S. involvement ended in the war.  Vet Centers are community based and are a branch of the VA Health Care system. 

In 1996, Congress authorized the treatment of WWII and Korean War veterans. 1n 2003, authorization was granted to treat veterans of the Iraq War and all subsequent operations of the overall Global War on Terror.

There are four Vet Centers in New Mexico, located in Farmington, Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and Las Cruces. For more information, go to http://www.vetcenter.va.gov/.  On the far right of the home page, click on the map of the U.S….then click on New Mexico.

The VA estimates that more than 20% of all veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan may be suffering from PTSD. 30,000 of the 1.6 million Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans live in New Mexico.

Governor Martinez addresses the crowd while proclaiming June 27th as PTSD Awareness Day in New Mexico.

Governor Martinez (left) and NMDVS Cabinet Secretary Timothy Hale (right) with Women Veterans of New Mexico President Pat Gaston, who attended the ceremony.