Thursday 27th June is designated PTSD awareness day. It was first organised in the US in 2010, when the Senate nominated that day in memory of Joseph Biel, a former Staff Sergeant who had served in the North Dakota Air National Guard. A year after returning home from his second tour of Iraq, he took his own life aged just 37, having battled with PTSD.
This year, it begins on Monday 17th June. It is intended to be a celebration and an opportunity to increase awareness. More than anything else it is a chance for people to show what it is like to live with learning disabilities. For 2024 the theme is, ‘Do you see me?’. This means raising the profile of people with learning disabilities, encouraging and empowering them to be seen, heard and respected within society.
Naturally enough, one ongoing aim of Volunteers’ Week is to acknowledge the time and efforts generously given by millions of volunteers across the UK to thousands of good causes. A second goal is to encourage and inspire more people from all walks of life to consider offering a little of their time to make a difference within their communities and beyond.
