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.
========
LC001348
========