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June is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month and this year’s theme, “Restoring Hope: Healing Hidden Wounds,” centers on the journey of recovery, resilience, and renewal for individuals and communities affected by trauma. It acknowledges post-traumatic stress is not always visible — yet healing is possible through compassion, connection, and care.

PTSD Awareness Month also spotlights the impact of trauma across medical, caregiving, and community settings while promoting trauma-informed practices that foster safety, empowerment, and hope.

Key focus areas include:

• Understanding the many faces of PTSD — from medical trauma to secondary trauma in caregivers.
• Encouraging open dialogue and reducing stigma around mental health and trauma recovery.
• Highlighting evidence-based approaches to healing such as mindfulness, resilience-building, and post-traumatic growth.
• Strengthening community partnerships with mental health providers and wellness advocates.

UVA Health Office of Community Engagement and Health Outcomes is honoring the strength of survivors and caregivers. Together — we can restore hope, nurture resilience, and build a culture of healing that reaches every corner of our community. Join our events — some are in-person; others are virtual:

Calendar of Events

Mental Health Practice: Mindfulness Meditation

Mondays, June 15 and 22 | 8:30-9 a.m. | Registration required to receive Zoom link | Healthcare professionals, caregivers, students, and community members seeking practical tools to strengthen mental wellness and self-awareness are invited to attend as Melody M. Pannell, D.Min., M.Div., MSW, MACE, Director, Healthcare Leadership Education and Community Wellness, leads a moment to be intentional about practicing a deeper level of presence, awareness, and acceptance through gentle mindfulness activities. Co-sponsored by UVA Health Office of Community Engagement and Health Outcomes and UVA Mindfulness Center.

In today’s fast-paced world, mindfulness offers a powerful way to pause, breathe, and reconnect with the present moment. This webinar introduces participants to evidence-based techniques that cultivate calm, clarity, and emotional balance and explores how mindfulness can support mental health, reduce stress, and enhance resilience — personally and professionally.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the science and practice of mindfulness meditation.
• Explore how mindfulness supports emotional regulation and trauma recovery.
• Experience guided meditation and grounding exercises.
• Learn strategies to integrate mindfulness into daily routines and caregiving practices.

Participants will leave with renewed insight and simple, sustainable practices to nurture inner peace, compassion, and resilience — fostering a culture of mindfulness across UVA Health and the broader community.

Mental Health Matters Empowerment Group: Trauma Stewardship for Caregivers

Mondays, June 15 and 22 | 12-1 p.m. | (Pending registration link to receive Zoom link) | Caregiving is an act of profound compassion — yet it often comes with invisible burdens. Healthcare professionals, social workers, educators, community leaders, and anyone engaged in caregiving or service-oriented work are invited to attend as Melody M. Pannell, D.Min., M.Div., MSW, MACE, Director, Healthcare Leadership Education and Community Wellness, explores how exposure to others’ pain and suffering can shape our emotional, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. A reflective and practical framework for understanding secondary trauma, compassion fatigue, and the cumulative toll of caring work. Participants will leave with renewed insight into how to care for themselves while caring for others — transforming empathy into endurance and stewardship into strength.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the signs of trauma exposure response.
• Cultivate sustainable self-care and professional boundaries.
• Reconnect with purpose, meaning, and resilience in caregiving roles.
• Foster collective wellbeing within teams and communities.

Wellness Webinar | Medical Trauma: The Hidden Signs of PTSD

Wednesday, June 17 | 12-1 p.m. | (Pending registration required to receive Zoom link) | Even the most routine medical experiences can leave lasting emotional imprints and medical interventions, hospitalizations, and chronic illness that can quietly shape our mental health. Melody M. Pannell, D.Min., M.Div., MSW, MACE, Director of Healthcare Leadership Education and Community Wellness, offers a trauma-informed lens to recognize the subtle ways medical experiences may trigger post-traumatic stress and how healing can begin through awareness, empathy, and support. Healthcare professionals, patients, caregivers, and community members dedicated to fostering healing-centered care and emotional wellness are invited to attend to gain renewed insight and practical tools to recognize, address, and transform medical trauma — promoting holistic recovery and compassionate connection across the continuum of care.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the hidden signs and symptoms of PTSD related to medical experiences.
• Understand how the body and mind respond to medical trauma.
• Explore trauma-informed strategies for patient care and self-advocacy.
• Strengthen resilience and trust within healthcare and caregiving relationships.

Community Wellness Resource Tabling 

Thursdays, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | June 11, 18, and 25 | Alcove at entrance to UVA Health Claude Moore Health Sciences Library | Join this welcoming space to explore mental health education, empowerment, and engagement. UVA Health Office of Community Engagement and Health Outcomes collaborates with local community mental health providers (to be announced) to share valuable resources, promote access to care, and strengthen the network of support available to the healthcare community. Together, we aim to reduce stigma, increase awareness, and empower participants to take proactive steps towards holistic wellbeing. Receive free educational materials and resource guides, and information on workshops, webinars, and wellness initiatives — and join meaningful conversations about self-care, trauma stewardship, and resilience.