SPONSOR:

Rep. Jaques on behalf of all Representatives & Sen. Ennis on behalf of all Senators

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

149th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 93

RECOGNIZING JUNE 27, 2018 AS "DELAWARE POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY AWARENESS DAY" AND JUNE AS "DELAWARE POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY AWARENESS MONTH."

WHEREAS, all citizens of the United States possess the basic human right to the preservation of personal dignity; and

WHEREAS, all citizens of the United States deserve the investment of every possible resource to ensure their lasting physical, mental, and emotional well-being; and

WHEREAS, the diagnosis now known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was first defined by the American Psychiatric Association in 1980 to commonly and more accurately understand and treat veterans who had endured severe operational combat stress; and

WHEREAS, combat stress injury has historically been unjustly portrayed as a mental illness caused by a pre-existing flaw of character and/or ability and the word “disorder" carries a stigma that perpetuates this misconception; and

WHEREAS, post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) can occur following exposure to extremely traumatic events such as, but not exclusive to: interpersonal violence, combat, life-threatening accidents or natural disasters; and

WHEREAS, post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) is a very common injury to the brain that is treatable and repairable; and

WHEREAS, referring to the complications from combat operational stress as a disorder perpetuates the stigma of and bias against mental illness, and this stigma can discourage the injured from seeking proper and timely medical treatment; and

WHEREAS, making post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) less stigmatizing and more honorable can favorably influence those affected and encourage them to seek treatment without fear of retribution or shame; and

WHEREAS, proper and timely treatment can diminish suicide rates among the injured; and

WHEREAS, all citizens suffering from post-traumatic stress injury deserve our compassion and consideration, those brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces who have received these wounds in action against an enemy of the United States further deserve our special tribute and acknowledgement.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED, by the House of Representatives of the 149 th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein that June 27, 2018 is “Delaware Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day” and June is “Delaware Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month.”

SYNOPSIS

This House Concurrent Resolution designates June 27, 2018 “Delaware Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day” and June is “Delaware Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month.”