If you are a veteran....

Make the Connection is a website for veterans where you can hear others' stories of survival and strength, symptoms of PTSD and other conditions, find more information on the conditions that affect veterans or more resources. The site allows you to tailor the content based on your gender, era in which you served, branch of military service and whether you saw combat.

The Dayton Veterans Affairs Medical Center has a page dedicated to PSTD signs, symptoms and options to for both self-help and professional treatment. Topics also include specific issues that affect women. The Dayton VA also includes tools for PTSD self-assessment. Veterans can contact the VA using for more information by telephone or email or call directly to make an appointment.

The Dayton VA Medical Center address is 4100 W. Third St., Dayton, Ohio. Phone: (937) 268-6511

Dayton VA Medical Center PTSD program: 937-268-6511, ext. 2290 or 1913.

Dayton VA Medical Center Family Services Program: 937-268-6511, ext. 5457.

Dayton VA Medical Center Freedom Clinic for post-deployment Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation New Dawn veterans and their families: 937-268-6511, choose option five or dial ext. 1653.

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: Call 800-273-8255. Veterans select option one.

Psychology Today has a listing of Dayton-area therapists that deal specifically with PTSD and trauma, including contact information and a brief biography.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness has several local chapters that can help you find treatment, support groups and education. The NAMI of Greater Dayton has a support group that can be contacted at 937-299-3667. There's also chapters in Troy, Butler County, Greene County, and Clark County.

The mobile app PTSD Coach helps you track, record and cope with your symptoms.

Some soldiers are turning to blogging to help them cope. At PTSD: A Soldier's Perspective, Army veteran Scott A. Lee leaves no topic uncovered, including suicide, PTSD help and more.

Some soldiers are using alternative treatments like yoga to help them cope. Yoga Warriors International can help you find local classes and give you more information.

Also, the Sri Yoga Center on 813 Leo Street offers a yoga class that may help veterans who suffer from PTSD. Dayton's Police Chief Richard Biehl leads this class and invites anyone who'd like to talk to him about PTSD and the benefits of yoga to call him at the Dayton Police Department. Phone: 937-333-2677

The Dayton Veterans Center on 627 Edwin C. Moses Boulevard in the East Medical Plaza serves veterans who served in combat zones, and their families. Phone: 937-461-9150 or 877-927-8387. The Vet Center Combat Call Center: 877-WAR-VETS

Military One Source is a website with numerous resources for soldiers and families.

Dayton Police Officer Jack Miniard, this year’s officer of the year, is a liaison with military personnel with PTSD concerns. He is happy to assist anyone with any questions or references they may need in dealing with PTSD. Contact Officer Miniard at 937-333-1108 or on his cell phone at 937-603-8887.

There is an online option for filing of veterans' claims, which is a joint project between the VA and Defense Department. For additional information, call: 800-827-1000

If you are a family member or friend....

What is you are the family or friend of someone with PTSD? The Dayton VA Medical Center has information on how living with someone who has PTSD can affect you. The VA also has information on coping with and caring for a spouse that has PTSD.

The NAMI Family to Family program helps families learn to cope and help a family member suffering from a mental illness like PTSD.

The Support and Family Education (SAFE) program at the Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Medical Center has a list of resources for families and friends.

The Veterans Affairs Caregiver Support is another excellent program that can help families and friends cope with the affects that PTSD of a service member can have on them. Their help number is 1-855-260-3274 and provides support to a caregiver of a veteran.

The Department of Defense offers a Family Readiness Library to provide families and caregivers with the information they need.

The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America also has tons of information and holds local events that veterans can participate in. Membership is FREE to all veterans and the organization is the largest in America that focuses on the conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Children of service members suffering from PTSD

The children of service members suffering from PTSD experience higher levels of stress and anxiety.

Sesame Street has kid-friendly resources to help kids deal with deployments, stress, grief and other aspects of military life and PTSD.

The Operation Purple Program offers camps and numerous other resources for children of service members.

Our Military Kids is another child-oriented program that provides resources for parents to educate and help their child cope with a veteran parent suffering from PTSD.