*** Event offers an unprecedented opportunity to glimpse the world through a returning soldier's eyes and gain an understanding of the challenges of reintegration, PTSD traumatic brain injury. ***

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — April 29, 2010 — “Healing the Hidden Wounds,”  a two-day symposium to raise awareness of available post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) resources for active military, veterans and families,  welcomes outside mental health providers, educators, military families and service personnel on May 11 and 12, 2010 at Cole Park Commons at Fort Campbell, KY. The event, co-presented by Nashville Public Television (NPT), National Alliance on Mental Illness - Tennessee (NAMI) and Fort Campbell, is free and open to the public. Due to base access restrictions, participants and media must register in advance at www.namitn.org and click on the “Healing the Hidden Wounds” logo.

Attendees at the event will experience the world renowned state-of-the-art resources being used through the warrior recovery unit at Fort Campbell, and get to step into a soldier's shoes in the Warrior Experience Tour.  Keynote speakers for event are COL Elspeth Cameron Ritchie, MD, MPH, Adult and Forensic Psychiatrist, Director, Behavioral Health Proponency; and Brigadier General Richard W. Thomas, Assistant Surgeon General for Force Projection.

The symposium will also include segments of the forthcoming PBS documentary, “The Misunderstood Epidemic: Depression ,” an intimate look at how depression affects its victims and their families.  It airs on NPT-Channel 8, Monday, May 17, 2010 at 9:00pm.

WATCH A CLIP OF "THE MISUNDERSTOOD EPIDEMIC: DEPRESSION"

“Please join NPT in this effort to recognize, acknowledge and promote treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at this extraordinary event at Fort Campbell,” said Beth Curley, president and CEO, NPT “We hope this event will offer a rare glimpse into the experiences and subsequent wounds; some seen, some unseen of military personal returning from areas of live combat and conflict. We are honored to partner with Fort Campbell and NAMI TN.”