Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Learn what Canada is doing to address PTSD.

On this page

• About PTSD
• How Canada is helping
• Mental health supports

About PTSD

A person who experiences or witnesses one or more traumatic events may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD has specific psychological symptoms.

A traumatic event includes:

• war
• crime
• major accident
• family violence
• natural disaster

PTSD can affect people of any age, culture or gender.

People with PTSD may experience major distress or find it hard to cope:

• at work or school
• in social or family life

How Canada is helping

PTSD impacts people, families, workplaces and communities.

Canada supports all those living with or impacted by PTSD. We passed the Federal Framework on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act in June 2018. As a result, we are now working on the development of a federal framework on PTSD. The first step was a national conference held on April 9 and 10, 2019.

Leading this work are the:

• Public Health Agency of Canada
• Public Safety Canada
• Veterans Affairs Canada
• Department of National Defence

We are also working with stakeholders and key partners, including provinces and territories.

Other federal initiatives to support people living with PTSD include:

• an action plan on post-traumatic stress injuries (PTSI) for public safety personnel
• community-based projects to improve the physical and mental health of people affected by family violence
• a national research consortium to improve the mental health and treatment of public safety personnel
• a Centre of Excellence on PTSD and Other Related Mental Health Conditions for information and resources on Veteran-specific mental health treatment

Mental health supports

If you or someone you know is in crisis or needs support, you are not alone. Please visit the Mental health support: get help page for more information.