THE PROBLEM

C-PTSD is a long term mental health condition which has severe impacts on the individual, their family and the community as a whole. People living with CPTSD spend 10 times more time in hospital than people with depression alone (8). Further, research has shown that 90% of public mental health clients have been exposed to (and most have actually experienced) multiple experiences of trauma (10). 

The National Centre for PTSD found that mental health patients with a diagnosis of PTSD had 13 times the rate of suicide than those without PTSD. Furthermore, suicide attempts are higher in people living with CPTSD than in people with a diagnosis of PTSD alone (5).

Conventional PTSD treatment has been shown to not only be ineffective, but to have unacceptable risks for people living with CPTSD (2)(4). Treatment of CPTSD needs to be delivered by a therapist who is specialised in treating this disorder. 

Studies show symptom improvement for people living with CPTSD after 12-14 months of treatment, with twice weekly sessions (1)(9).  To achieve ongoing recovery, treatment can last between 12 months to 2 plus years, depending on the severity of symptoms and trauma history.

Currently, the Government only offers mental health care plans for treatment of mild to moderate psychological conditions (7). The mental health care plan will cover 10 therapy sessions per year.  This is a small fraction of the amount of therapy required for the recovery of CPTSD. 

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