News
6 July, 2025
Two-minute PTSD screener
A new two-minute online screener launched by the University of the Sunshine Coast’s National PTSD Research Centre is helping Australians assess whether they may be living with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Coinciding with PTSD Awareness Month, the free tool offers a quick, confidential way for users to check if their symptoms meet the threshold for diagnosis and to consider seeking professional support.
UniSC Thompson Institute Director, Professor Alain Brunet, said the screener responds to the growing need for accessible, anonymous support—especially for veterans, first responders, and everyday people affected by trauma.
“Many people downplay their symptoms or compare themselves to others who seem worse off,” he said. “But PTSD can manifest in many ways—flashbacks, nightmares, poor sleep, hypervigilance, emotional withdrawal, and avoidance.”
Professor Brunet said diagnoses in Australia are on the rise, driven in part by natural disasters linked to climate change, such as bushfires and floods.
The screener links users to the PTSD Clinic, part of the National PTSD Research Centre, which offers cutting-edge research and treatment options.
While not a universal solution, he said the treatment is helping researchers build safer, more targeted therapies for a range of PTSD experiences.
The online tool is available at the UniSC Thompson Institute website.
