b'C E N T E R F O R R E S I L I E N C ED 1 I SI A G N O SPTSDT ragically, an estimated 21 veterans and active-duty military personnel take their own lives every day.More than 500,000 veterans suffer from the nightmare of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including over 270,000 Vietnam War veterans. Worse, less than 20% of these veterans will receive adequate care due to lack of effective treatments, fear of stigma, or insufficient government resources. Fifty percent of those wont receive any care at all. Research suggests that the Veterans Administrations two first-line psychotherapeutic treatments for PTSDProlonged Exposure (PE) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)may be ineffective for 50% or more of patients and can have high dropout rates. Left untreated, PTSD can cripple the ability to function and place veterans at greater risk for lifelong mental health problems and violent and self-destructive behavior, including suicidal ideation, alcoholism and drug abuse, and family and employment problems. 18'