Blog: News & Views from the Field

It’s been a tough time for many people – the COVID-19 pandemic has continued well into 2021 and the world is grappling with a constantly changing “normal life” as we head into a new season and new year. As a disease that thrives on inconsistency, drug and alcohol addiction has had its moments – with an increase in overdose deaths, and a growing number of people struggling with addiction, mental health has never been more important than it is right now.

Back in 2010, Senator Kent Conrad spearheaded a campaign to create an official form of recognition of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) through a “day of awareness.” Senator Conrad was passionate about the creation of an awareness day as a tribute to North Dakota National Guard serviceman, Staff Sergeant Joe Biel, who took his own life in 2007 following two tours in Iraq. Staff Sergeant Biel’s birthday was June 27^th, thus its selection as National PTSD Awareness Day. In 2014, the entire month of June was designated as National PTSD Awareness month.

While mental health has become a widely talked about topic in recent years, May is the official observance for mental health awareness.