Center for Veterans Issues

As our state and nation prepare to celebrate a festive Fourth of July Holiday and America's 250th birthday, the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) would like to remind you it can be a difficult time for many veterans with PTSD, as well as civilians who don’t know what they’re going through. That’s why WDVA and our partners are committed to providing support, education, and resources.

Fireworks, while festive for many, can trigger distressing memories for some veterans and service members living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is more common among veterans than in the general population.

WDVA and our partners at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services want to spread the word about helpful resources and tips this holiday weekend.

If you are a veteran, or a service member in crisis or you are concerned about one, the following resources may help:

• Call 988 and press ‘1’ to get connected to the Veterans Crisis Line for 24/7 confidential crisis support. https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/

• For local support, Wisconsin County Crisis Lines are staffed by mental health professionals and trained volunteers. https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/crisis/talk.htm

• The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers helpful tips to manage PTSD during fireworks and for veteran-specific PTSD resources. https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/ptsd/index.asp

For these tips and more, see the U.S. VA’s Trauma Reminders: Fireworks. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/what/fireworks_ptsd.asp