R 308

2017 -- H 5454 Enacted 06/08/2017

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

DESIGNATING JUNE 27 TO BE POST - TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY AWARENESS DAY IN RHODE ISLAND AND THE MONTH OF JUNE TO BE POST - TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY AWARENESS MONTH IN RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, Vella-Wilkinson, McLaughlin, Azzinaro,

Date Introduced: February 09, 2017

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 brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces who proudly

serve the United States risk their lives to protect our freedom; 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 traumatic combat stress; and

WHEREAS, Combat stress has historically been viewed 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 after experiencing a severely

traumatic event and may include, but is not limited to, sexual assault, child abuse, high-impact

collisions and crashes, natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and military combat; 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 post-traumatic 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 help without fear of

retribution or shame; and

WHEREAS, Proper and timely treatment of post-traumatic stress injury can diminish

suicide rates; and

WHEREAS, All citizens suffering from post-traumatic stress injury deserve our

compassion and consideration. Those who have received these wounds in action against an

enemy of the United States further deserve our tribute and acknowledgement; and

WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Department of Health and Office of Veterans Affairs

must continue working to educate victims of abuse, crime and natural disasters, service members,

veterans and their families, as well as the general public, about the causes, symptoms, and

treatment of post-traumatic stress injury; now, therefore be it;

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby designates June 27 to be Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness

Day in Rhode Island, and designates the Month of June to be Post-Traumatic Stress Injury

Awareness Month; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Gina M. Raimondo, Governor of the State of

Rhode Island, Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH, Director, Rhode Department of Health, and

Kasim Yarn, Director, Rhode Island Office of Veterans Affairs.

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LC001348

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