The Postal Service will release a semipostal stamp Dec. 2 to help raise funds for those diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The Healing PTSD semipostal stamp, which USPS announced Nov. 8, will feature a photograph of a green plant sprouting from the ground, which is covered in fallen leaves. The image is intended to symbolize the PTSD healing process.
Greg Breeding served as art director for the stamp, which features an image by photographer Mark Laita.
Tens of millions of Americans will experience PTSD in their lifetimes.
Researchers have tracked post-trauma disorders for hundreds of years, but PTSD was not officially added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a widely used reference guide published by the American Psychiatric Association, until the late 20th century.
The condition develops in some children and adults who have survived a traumatic event. PTSD can be triggered by experiences such as a natural disaster, car accident, physical or sexual assault, abuse and combat, among others.
The stamp will be sold for 65 cents. This price includes the First-Class Mail single-piece postage rate in effect at the time of purchase plus an amount to fund PTSD research.
By law, revenue from sales of the stamp — minus the postage paid and the reimbursement of reasonable costs incurred by the Postal Service — will be distributed to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The Semipostal Authorization Act grants USPS the authority to issue and sell semipostal stamps to advance causes deemed in the national public interest.
The Postal Service’s current semipostal offerings include the Breast Cancer Research and Alzheimer’s stamps.
The Healing PTSD stamp will be dedicated Dec. 2 in Charlotte, NC.