2021 -- H 6414

========

LC002721

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

____________

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

DESIGNATING JUNE 27TH TO BE POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS AWARENESS DAY AND

THE MONTH OF JUNE AS POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS AWARENESS MONTH IN

RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives Casimiro, Vella-Wilkinson, Shekarchi, Blazejewski,
Azzinaro, Filippi, and Solomon

     Date Introduced: June 10, 2021

     Referred To: House read and passed

     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 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 can diminish suicide

rates; and

     WHEREAS, All citizens suffering from post-traumatic stress 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 injuries; now, therefore be it

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

designates June 27th of 2021, to be Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day in Rhode Island, and

designates the Month of June to be Post-Traumatic Stress 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 the Honorable Daniel McKee, 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.

========

LC002721

========

LC002721 - Page 2 of 2