Invisible Wounds: A Perspective on Mental Health Issues During the Civil War

COVID-19 and closures won’t stop us from sharing the incredible lessons we can learn from studying medical care during the Civil War!

Join us on Friday April 9 at 1:00 PM on Facebook for a *pre-recorded* virtual program hosted by the National Museum of Civil War Medicine. You can tune in live by visiting facebook.com/civilwarmed at the scheduled time.

The knowledge, diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues were basically non-existent during the American Civil War. As a result, great damage was inflicted on thousands of soldiers as well as civilians, endangering the overall war effort and increasing postwar societal upheaval.

This digital program examines the extreme psychological stress suffered by the average Civil War soldier and compares that experience to today’s understanding and treatment of trauma-induced mental health issues. Special emphasis will be given to the condition we now call Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Hilda Koontz holds an MA in Counseling Psychology from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul MN and has devoted more than 20 years of her professional career to counseling. She is a former reviewer for Consulting Psychologist Press, member of the American Counseling Association and the Company of Military Historians. Since 2001, she has been a frequent speaker for the NMCWM and for numerous historical organizations, including the Civil War Round Tables of Chicago and St. Louis.

Like these programs? Consider supporting our efforts by BECOMING A MEMBER or DONATING TO THE MUSEUM! Your efforts ensure that we can continue sharing the story of Civil War medicine in this crucial time. In history, we can find hope amid our struggle against COVID-19.