ALEXANDRIA, LA (6/27/2025) – When people think of PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) they often picture military veterans returning from combat. But here in Alexandria, Louisiana, and in communities across the country, thousands of people live with PTSD every day due to a different kind of battlefield: the trauma of violent crime, poverty, and generational crisis.
Gun violence, domestic abuse, and sudden loss are a reality for many Central Louisiana families. These experiences can leave deep emotional scars, causing nightmares, anxiety, fear, depression, and emotional detachment. The symptoms are real, yet many suffer in silence, often without a diagnosis or access to care.
Today is National PTSD Awareness Day. And while we honor veterans, we must also honor those in our neighborhoods who carry invisible wounds. Children afraid to sleep, parents struggling with grief, and elders coping with years of loss, this, too, is PTSD.
Help Is Available – Even Without Insurance
If you or someone you know is struggling, help exists right here in our community. You do not need insurance or a formal diagnosis to seek care.
📍 Central Louisiana Human Services District (CLHSD)
Provides mental health, addiction, and developmental disability services in Rapides and surrounding parishes.
• 5411 Coliseum Blvd, Alexandria, LA
• Phone: (318) 487-5191
• Low-cost services available.
📍 Family Justice Center of Central Louisiana
Supports survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault with counseling, safety planning, and legal advocacy.
• 220 Hospital Blvd, Pineville, LA
• Phone: (318) 448-0884
• Email: emma@fjccenla.org
📞 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988 anytime. It’s free, confidential, and available 24/7 for mental health crises, emotional distress, or if you just need someone to talk to.
Let’s Break the Silence
PTSD in violent crime communities is real, and it’s time we treat it that way. Healing begins with acknowledgment, access, and compassion. Whether you’re living with trauma or know someone who is—you are not alone, and you do not have to carry it alone.
Let’s Talk. Let’s Heal. Let’s Act.
#PTSDAwareness #AlexandriaLA #CommunityHealing #988Lifeline #CLHSD #FamilyJusticeCenter #MentalHealthMatters #InvolvedInItAll #UrbanCast #PTSDinViolentCrimeCommunities
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