Mary Ann's Story
In 2017, Mary Ann Henker was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a result of her relationship with an individual who developed PTSD with Extreme Anger during combat deployment. At the age of 46, newly divorced, and with a four-year-old child, this would be her new normal.
Mary Ann had to dig deep to secure the will to live and navigate the complexities of her young son's questions about his family that was no more. Many days were spent explaining to him, “Mommy’s brain is broken today.”
Over the next few years, Mary Ann successfully worked through managing her PTSD symptoms with counseling and prescribed medication. Along the way, she got to know others who have or exhibit symptoms of PTSD. This helped her gain a deeper understanding of the impact PTSD has on so many lives.
Whether from their own experiences or as witnesses to domestic violence, sexual assault and harassment, violent crime, horrific accidents, life-threatening illnesses, bullying, childhood abuse, workplace safety issues, combat, and more; Mary Ann learned PTSD does not discriminate.
She saw the ripple effect of one person's PTSD as significant and far-reaching. A spouse, life partner, family, friends, colleagues, children, healthcare providers, caretakers, and even strangers are - and will be - directly impacted or somehow touched by PTSD.
During her PTSD journey, she recognized two problems related to PTSD care and knew she could make a difference by developing the solutions.
PTSD - An Overview
PTSD is a mental health condition that's caused by an extremely stressful or terrifying event — either being part of it, witnessing it, or hearing about it.
70% of adults in the U.S. will experience
a traumatic event at least one time in their life.
About 20% will develop PTSD.
Following trauma, areas of the brain linked to the fear response (fight, flight, freeze) become hyperactive, while areas responsible for calming this response become underactive. The result is the emergence of PTSD symptoms.
PTSD can’t be “cured” because there is direct physiological damage to the brain.
Symptoms vary between individuals and can range in severity.
Symptoms can include flashbacks, nightmares, insomnia, short-term memory loss, physical symptoms, disassociation, hypersensitivity, suicidal thoughts, and more.
PTSD symptoms are like driving a car in 5th gear with no brakes.
Treatment can help with recovery and management of symptoms, but outcomes vary and no one treatment is effective for everyone.
80% of people with long-standing PTSD develop additional mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.
Treatment can be challenging for about 20% of those with PTSD who use drugs, alcohol, or pursue unhealthy behaviors (gambling, overspending, reckless sexual behavior, etc.) in an attempt to relieve their symptoms.
Barriers to care include lack of awareness, absence of a single online resource to find the best-match provider, and social stigma persists.
Help Us
Slay PTSD!
While SlayPTSD's application is being reviewed and processed to become a nonprofit, Mary Ann's marketing agency, The Henker Group LLC, will administer all aspects of the project. The timetable to launch the website and the public awareness campaign is on the first day of National PTSD Awareness Month, June 1, 2025.
We thank you for your non-tax deductible donation to help fund these essential programs that will transform lives and create lasting impact.
SlayPTSD's Value
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SlayPTSD’s social marketing campaigns will engage and educate the public, direct individuals to the website, and reduce the PTSD stigma. The eye-catching social marketing campaigns empower those in need to Slay their PTSD.
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SlayPTSD’s new web portal and social marketing campaigns will enhance the economic potential for PTSD service providers to increase and maximize the resources available to those in need.
Problems with PTSD Care
Solutions
1. Although excellent resources are available, they are often difficult to find online.
2. A stigma around PTSD care continues to exist primarily because of a lack of awareness and knowledge.
1. Create an accessible and resource-rich website for SlayPTSD that will be the leading portal to support PTSD specialists, programs, and those in need.
2. Develop and launch powerful social marketing campaigns nationally to raise awareness and educate the public about PTSD and its broad effects. Each campaign will drive those in need and those who can help to the website.