HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

151st GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 15

RECOGNIZES JUNE 2021 AS “POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY MONTH” AND JUNE 27, 2021, AS “POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY DAY”.

WHEREAS, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (“PTSD”) was first recognized by the American Psychiatric Association in 1980 as a disorder with specific symptoms that can affect veterans who had endured severe operational combat stress; and

WHEREAS, historically, combat stress injuries have been unjustly portrayed as a mental illness caused by a preexisting flaw of character or ability; and

WHEREAS, the word “disorder" carries a stigma that perpetuates this misconception which can discourage the injured from seeking proper and timely medical treatment; and

WHEREAS ,  referring to the complications from combat operational stress as a disorder perpetuates the stigma of and bias against mental illness; and

WHEREAS ,  electro-magnetic imaging has shown that PTSD is more accurately described as an injury; and

WHEREAS, severe post-traumatic stress is a very common, and treatable, injury to the brain which can occur following exposure to extremely traumatic events, such as assault or abuse, combat, serious accidents, and natural disasters; and

WHEREAS, the House of Representatives supports the preservation of all citizens’ personal dignity; and

WHEREAS ,  the term Post-Traumatic Stress Injury (“PTSI”) is less stigmatizing and viewed as more honorable, which can favorably influence people affected with the condition, encouraging them to seek treatment without fear of retribution or shame; and

WHEREAS, all people suffering from PTSI deserve our compassion and consideration; and

WHEREAS, 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 deserve special tribute and acknowledgement; and

WHEREAS, PTSI is an injury that is repairable, and timely treatment can diminish complications and prevent suicides among the injured.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 151 ^st General Assembly of the State of Delaware, that June 2021 is recognized as “Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Month” in the State of Delaware.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the House of Representatives, that June 27, 2021, is recognized as “Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Day” in the State of Delaware.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives encourages the Department of Health and Social Services and the Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs to continue working to educate victims of assault or abuse, combat, serious accidents, and natural disasters about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of PTSI.

SYNOPSIS

This House Resolution recognizes June 2021 as “Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Month” and June 27, 2021, as “Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Day”, and encourages State agencies to continue their work educating victims of assault or abuse, combat, serious accidents, and natural disasters about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of PTSI.