Ridgely Ochs’ story in Newsday, “9/11 first responders’ battle with PTSD,” may have been written in 2011, but touches on issues that remain very relevant today. Today, June 27^th, is National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day. While PTSD is often associated with military veterans returning from war, anyone who has lived through a traumatic event can experience symptoms at any time.

On this Awareness Day, VOICES would like to share with you this important information about PTSD, published by the National Institute of Mental Health

Last week was full of transitions for Voices of September 11th and our staff. Our enthusiastic spring interns completed the last hours of their internship programs just in time to graduate high school! A few days later, our offices were once again full with a new group of New Canaan High School students. For the next few weeks, these summer interns will be working on a memorial project, documenting community response to 9/11. Their focus will range from local town memorials to the National September 11 Memorial in New York City, as well as personal memorials created by families. If their personal biographies tell us anything about the quality of work we can expect, then we are certainly looking forward to seeing their final project in August!

During the event, Ms Shelby spoke about motivational interviewing principles and techniques and how they can be used as an effective strategy for engaging clients in behavior change. She explained that motivational interviewing is a collaborative, person-centered form of interviewing to illicit and strengthen motivation for change.

Do you have questions about eligibility for the World Trade Center Health Program?  Visit with us in Perth Amboy, New Jersey on Sunday, June 22nd  at the Dominican American Communitarian Association Health Fair. At the fair, we will meet with responders, survivors and their friends to provide information about the application process for The World Trade Center Health Program.