Press Release: National Stalking Consortium Statement on National PTSD Awareness Day

On National PTSD Awareness Day, the National Stalking Consortium is calling for a stronger, more joined-up health response to stalking, recognising the profound and often enduring psychological harm it can cause.   

An estimated 1.4 million people experience stalking in England and Wales each year. Through frontline services delivered by Consortium members, we hear every day from victims who describe hypervigilance, sleep disruption, anxiety and depression following stalking, all of which are trauma responses consistent with PTSD. Research by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust found that 78% of victims experienced symptoms consistent with PTSD. Stalking has increasingly been linked to victim suicide.  

The psychological harm stalking causes, which can last for years, is inseparable from the nature of the crime itself. Perpetrators may send hundreds of messages within days, repeatedly attend a victim's home or workplace, target children and family members, impersonate victims online, or use technology to maintain constant surveillance. Stalking can also escalate to serious harm and even homicide. The cumulative effect profoundly erodes a person's sense of safety and autonomy, leading many victims to alter their routines, avoid public spaces, relocate, or withdraw from work or education.   

Yet the healthcare system is not currently equipped to identify and respond to stalking-related trauma. Victims are already turning to GPs, counsellors, and mental health services to seek support for the psychological impact of stalking. However, 79% of healthcare professionals surveyed had never received training on identifying or responding to stalking, while only 28% of victims who sought support through healthcare reported a positive experience. Where professionals lack the tools to identify stalking, opportunities for early intervention may be missed, leaving victims without appropriate referrals and access to specialist support. Given the links between stalking, serious harm and homicide, earlier identification and referral to specialist stalking services is a safeguarding priority.   

While the Consortium continues to push for change across policing and criminal justice, healthcare also has a vital role to play in preventing further harm. For this reason, the Consortium is calling for:  

• The inclusion of stalking within the NHS Steps to Safety programme  

• The commissioning specialist stalking training for healthcare practitioners by NHS Integrated Care Boards, enabling professionals to identify stalking-related trauma and connect victims with appropriate support;   

• Improved access to Independent Stalking Advocates (ISA/Cs), who play a vital role in helping victims understand risk, navigate the criminal justice system, and access additional specialist support. 

National PTSD Awareness Day is an opportunity to recognise that stalking is not only a criminal justice issue but also a significant public health issue. Victims deserve a health system that is equipped to identify what has happened to them, respond effectively, and prevent further harm.