Recognize the signs and help your loved ones

The appointed PTSD representative in the Ministry of Defense, Colonel Prof. Dr. Peter Zimmermann, invites you to a press conference at the Evangelical Church Office of the Bundeswehr in Berlin on April 1, 2025, for the launch of the "PTSD Family Questionnaire" campaign.

The newly developed questionnaire helps family members of potentially mission-affected individuals in the early detection of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD.

In close cooperation with the Medical Service of the Bundeswehr, an extensive information page including testimonials from those affected and further information provided by our experts was created. One of the resulting short films will be presented during the press conference.

The presentation of the family questionnaire will be supplemented by guest contributions from the Commander Medical Service of the Bundeswehr, General Staff Doctor Ralf Hoffmann, and the Evangelical Military Bishop, Dr. Bernhard Felmberg.

The development of the questionnaire and the implementation of an information campaign were prompted, among other things, by studies conducted by the British Armed Forces. According to them, an average period of 13 years from the onset of the illness to diagnosis and initiation of therapy is not uncommon.

The signs of a possible illness are often not tangible as a disease in the environment of the affected person and even in the person themselves. Minor changes in behavior can indicate anything. The goal is to avoid a significant delay in therapy in order to improve the chances of recovery.