47 States and both Houses of Congress

With the adoption of a Joint Resolution (HR 375) calling for Post-traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day in 2014, the Michigan Assembly became the first legislative body anywhere in the world to officially advocate for the removal and replacement of the word ‘disorder’ in a public document. This year the number of states demonstrating the same resolve, either by Act of Law, Resolution, and/or Proclamation, has reached 46 – joined by the US Houses of Representative in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. The US Senate has yet to put the word ‘Injury’ in the title of their annual Resolution, but they did drop the ‘D-word’ in 2016 and beyond.

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ALABAMA (Perennial Resolution 2018)

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

WHEREAS, combat stress injuries have historically been unjustly portrayed as a mental illness caused by a preexisting flaw of character or ability, and 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, than rather characterize the condition as a disorder, it has been shown through electro- magnetic imaging that the condition 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, but not exclusive to: interpersonal violence, combat, life-threatening accidents, or natural disasters; and

WHEREAS, referring to the condition as post-traumatic stress injury (PTS I) is less stigmatizing and viewed as more honorable, and this designation can favorably influence those affected and encourage them to seek treatment without fear of retribution or shame; and

WHEREAS, all citizens suffering from PTSI 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; 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 LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That we do hereby designate June 27 of each year as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day and June as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we respectfully urge our Department of Public Health and the Department of Veterans Affairs to continue working to educate victims of interpersonal violence, combat, life- threatening accidents, or natural disasters and their families, as well as the general public, about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of post-traumatic stress injury.

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ALASKA (Act of Law 2018)

HCS SB 152(MLV): “An Act establishing September 11 of each year as Patriot Day; and establishing June 27 of each year as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day.”

Sec. 44.12.170.

Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day. Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day is established on June 27 of each year to promote awareness of persons suffering from post-traumatic stress injury and to encourage Alaskans to reach out to those persons to provide support and eliminate the stigma associated with post-traumatic stress injury. Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day may be observed by suitable observances and exercises by civic groups and the public.

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ARIZONA (Proclamation 2016, 2017, 2018, 2919)

WHEREAS, the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces and first responders – who proudly serve the United States and risk their lives to protect our freedom; deserve the investment of every possible resource to ensure their lasting physical, mental, and emotional well-being; and

WHEREAS, post-traumatic stress has historically been viewed as a mental illness caused by a pre-existing flaw in the individual’s brain or character; and the term “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)” carries a stigma that perpetuates this misconception; and

WHEREAS, post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) occurs after a person has experienced a trauma; and can result from not only the stress of combat, but also rape, sexual assault, battery, torture, confinement, child abuse, car accidents, train wrecks, plane crashes, bombings, or natural disaster; and

WHEREAS, referring to post–traumatic stress injury as a disorder perpetuates the stigma of and bias against mental illness, and the stigma discourages those suffering from post-traumatic stress from seeking proper and timely medical treatment; and

WHEREAS, making this condition less stigmatizing and more honorable can favorably influence those affected and encourage them to seek timely treatment without fear of retribution or shame, thus helping to diminish suicide rates; and

WHEREAS, all citizens suffering from PTSI deserve our recognition, while those who have received these wounds in service to our nation further deserve our respect and special honor.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Douglas A. Ducey, Governor of the State of Arizona, do hereby proclaim June 2019 as POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY AWARENESS MONTH and June 27, 2019, as POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY AWARENESS DAY and encourage our federal and local agencies to continue working to educate service members, veterans, the families of service members and veterans, victims of abuse, crime and natural disaster, and the general public about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of post-traumatic stress injury.

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ARKANSAS (Proclamation 2016, 2017, 2018, 2919)

WHEREAS: The brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces who proudly serve the United States and risk their lives to protect our freedom deserve to be investment of every possible resource to ensure their lasting physical, mental, and emotional well-being; and

WHEREAS: Severe post-traumatic stress injury is a disabling wound to the brain which 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 has historically been viewed as a mental illness caused by a pre-existing flaw of character and/or ability, and the term post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) carries a stigma that perpetuates this misconception; and

 WHEREAS: Referring to post-traumatic stress injury as a disorder perpetuates the stigma of and bias against mental illness, and the stigma can discourage those suffering with post-traumatic stress from seeking proper and timely medical treatment; and

 WHEREAS: Making the condition less stigmatizing and more honorable can favorably influence those affected and encourage them to seek the help without fear of retribution or shame as well as diminish suicide rates; and

 WHEREAS: All citizens suffering from post-traumatic stress injury deserve recognition, and those who have received these wounds in service to our nation further deserve our respect and special honor;

 NOW, THEREFORE, I, ASA HUTCHINSON, Governor of the State of Arkansas, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the laws of the State of Arkansas, do hereby proclaim June 27th, 2019, as

POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY AWAREN’ESS DAYand June 2019_, as POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY AWARENESS MONTH

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CALIFORNIA (Perennial Resolution 2022)

WHEREAS, All citizens possess the basic human right of the preservation of personal dignity; and

WHEREAS, All citizens deserve the investment of every line possible resource to ensure their lasting physical, mental, and line emotional well-being; and 6 WHEREAS, Post-traumatic stress can result from any number of stressors, including combat, interpersonal violence, severe impact collisions, natural disaster, and exposure to the suffering of others; and

WHEREAS, The diagnosis known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was initially formulated in 1980 by the American Psychiatric Association to commonly describe and categorize the psychological aftermath of severe traumatic distress; and

WHEREAS, Post-traumatic stress has historically been unjustly portrayed as a mental illness caused by a preexisting flaw of character or ability, and the term “disorader” carries a stigma that perpetuates this misconception; and

WHEREAS, It has been shown through electromagnetic imaging that severe post-traumatic stress causes physical changes within the brain, which are more accurately described as an injury than a disorder; and

WHEREAS, Referring to post-traumatic stress as a disorder can disparage the injured and discourage them from seeking timely care for their behavioral health needs; and

WHEREAS, Post-traumatic stress injury exhibiting compliance with criteria A through H, inclusive, of Section 309.81 in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders deserves equal compensation strictly matching that presently allowed under the law for post-traumatic stress disorder; and

WHEREAS, All citizens suffering from post-traumatic stress injury deserve our compassion and consideration. The brave men and women in the military who received theses wounds while risking their lives to protect our freedom, health, and welfare deserve special recognition of their gallantry, commitment, devotion, and sacrifice; and

WHEREAS, Timely access to appropriate treatment of post-traumatic stress injury can diminish complications and prevent suicide; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of California, That the Senate hereby designates June 27 of each year as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Senate designates June as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Senate respectfully urges the State Department of Public Health, Military Department, and Department of Veterans Affairs to continue working to educate victims of interpersonal violence, combat, life-threatening accidents, or natural disasters and their families as well as the general public about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of post-traumatic stress injury; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Senate respectfully requests that this resolution be transmitted to the Governor for appropriate proclamation and execution, and encourages all citizens and residents to join in this worthy observance; and be it further line

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COLORADO (Proclamation 2016, 2017, 2018, 2919)

WHEREAS, the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces – who proudly serve the United States and risk their lives to protect our freedom – deserve the investment of every possible resource to ensure their lasting physical, mental, and emotional well-being; and

WHEREAS, severe post-traumatic stress injury is a disabling wound to the brain which 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 has historically been viewed as a mental illness caused by a pre-existing flaw in the individual’s brain or character; and the term “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)” carries a stigma that perpetuates this misconception; and

WHEREAS, referring to post-traumatic stress injury as a disorder perpetuates the stigma of and bias against mental illness and the stigma discourages those suffering from post-traumatic stress from seeking proper and timely medical treatment; and

WHEREAS, making the condition 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 that can diminish suicide rates; and

WHEREAS, all citizens suffering from post-traumatic stress injury deserve recognition, while those who have received these wounds in service to our nation further deserve our respect and special honor;

Therefore, I, Jared Polis, Governor of the State of Colorado, do hereby proclaim June 27, 2019 as POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY AWARENESS DAY

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CONNECTICUT (Proclamation 2019)

Whereas, the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces who proudly serve the United States and risk their lives to protect our freedom; deserve the investment of every possible resource to ensure their lasting physical, mental, and emotional well-being; and

Whereas, severe post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) is a disabling wound to the brain which 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, in many of these cases active duty soldiers and veterans with PTSI do not ask for help because of the negative stigma with which it is associated; and

Whereas, symptoms of PTSI include difficulty falling or staying asleep,  irritability or outburst of anger, difficulty concentrating, reliving the trauma repeatedly in one‘s mind and exaggerated startled response amongst others; and

Whereas, trying to cope with these symptoms leads those afflicted to experience, in some cases, substance abuse, self-injurious behaviors or even suicide; an

Whereas, making the condition less stigmatizing and more honorable can favorably influence those affected and encourage them to seek the help without fear of retribution or shame; and

Whereas, all citizens suffering from post-traumatic stress injury deserve recognition, while those who have received these wounds in service to our nation further deserve our respect and special honor; now therefore

I, Ned Lamont, Governor of the State of Connecticut, do hereby proclaim June 27, 2019 as POST TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY AWARENESS DAY in the State of Connecticut

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 DELAWARE (Resolution 2016, 2017, 2018, 2919, 2020, 2021)

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 General Assembly 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 150th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that June 2021 is recognized as “Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Month” in the State of Delaware.

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

 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly 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.

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DELAWARE (Resolution 2016, 2017, 2018, 2919, 2020, 2021)

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 General Assembly 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

HEREAS, 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 150th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that June 2021 is recognized as “Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Month” in the State of Delaware.

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

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly 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.

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FLORIDA (Resolution 2021)

A resolution recognizing June 27, 2021, as “Posttraumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day” and June 2021 as “Posttraumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month” in Florida.

WHEREAS, the diagnosis known as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was initially formulated in 1980 by the American Psychiatric Association to more accurately assess and assist veterans who had endured severe combat stress in Vietnam, and

WHEREAS, combat stress is an invisible wound and the Pentagon dropped the “D” from PTSD to help lessen the stigma that comes from the word “disorder” and break down barriers associated with treatment for veterans, and

WHEREAS, it has been shown though electromagnetic imaging that these invisible wounds can cause physical changes to the brain, which more accurately describe an injury than a disorder, and

WHEREAS, referring to invisible wounds as a disorder can discourage the injured from seeking proper and timely medical treatment, and

WHEREAS, posttraumatic stress injury can occur following exposure to extremely traumatic events other than combat, such as, but not exclusive to, interpersonal violence, life threatening accidents, and natural disasters, and

WHEREAS, Americans who have suffered posttraumatic stress injuries benefit from our compassion and consideration, and the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces who have suffered these wounds in operational action against an enemy of the United States are particularly recognized for their service and sacrifice, and

WHEREAS, timely and appropriate treatment of posttraumatic stress injury can diminish complications and avert suicides,

NOW, THEREFORE, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Florida:

That June 27, 2021 is recognized as “Posttraumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day,” and June 2021 is recognized as “Posttraumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month” in Florida.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Departments of Health, Military Affairs, and Veterans’ Affairs are encouraged to continue their efforts to educate those who have experienced interpersonal violence, life-threatening accidents, and natural disasters and their families, as well as the general public, about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of posttraumatic 48 stress injury

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 GEORGIA (Resolution 2016, 2017 Proclamation 2018, 2019)

WHEREAS The brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces, who proudly serve the United States and risk their lives to protect our freedom, deserve the investment of all resources to ensure their lasting physical, mental, and emotional well-being; and

WHEREAS post-traumatic stress injury is a disabling wound to the brain which can occur following exposure to extremely traumatic events; and

WHEREAS Post-traumatic stress has historically been viewed as a mental illness caused by a pre-existing flaw in the individual’s brain or character. The term “post­ traumatic stress disorder” carries a stigma that perpetuates this misconception; and

WHEREAS Referring to post-traumatic stress injury as a disorder perpetuates the stigma of and bias against mental illness, and the stigma discourages those suffering from post-traumatic stress from seeking proper and timely medical treatment; and

WHEREAS Making the condition 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 can diminish suicide rates; and

WHEREAS All citizens suffering from post-traumatic stress injury deserve recognition, and those who have received these wounds in service to our nation further deserve our respect and special honor; now

I, BRIAN P. KEMP, Governor of the State of Georgia do hereby proclaim June 27,2019  Post-traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day in Georgia

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HAWAII (Perennial Resolution 2021)

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

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

WHEREAS, post-traumatic stress can result from any number of stressors, including combat, interpersonal violence, severe impact collisions, natural disaster, and exposure to the suffering of others; and

WHEREAS, the diagnosis known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was initially formulated in 1980 by the American Psychiatric Association to commonly describe and categorize the psychological aftermath of severe traumatic distress; and

WHEREAS, post-traumatic stress has historically been groundlessly mischaracterized as a mental illness caused by a preexisting flaw of character or ability, and the term “disorder” carries a stigma that perpetuates this misconception; and

WHEREAS, it has been shown though electro-magnetic imaging that severe post-traumatic stress causes physical changes in the brain that are more accurately described as an injury than a disorder; and

WHEREAS, referring to post-traumatic stress as a disorder can disparage and discourage those injured from seeking timely care for their behavioral health needs; and

WHEREAS, post-traumatic stress injury that exhibits compliance with criteria B through H of section 309.81 of the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders deserves equal compensation strictly matching that presently allowed for post-traumatic stress disorder; and

WHEREAS, all citizens suffering from post-traumatic stress injury deserve compassion and consideration, and the brave men and women who received these wounds while risking their lives to protect our freedom, health, and welfare deserve special recognition of their gallantry, commitment, devotion, and sacrifice; and

WHEREAS, timely access to appropriate treatment of post-traumatic stress injury can diminish complications and prevent suicide; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2021, that the twenty-seventh day of June of each year should be designated as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day and observed as a day of recognition and appreciation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the month of June of each year shall be designated as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month in Hawaii; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health and the United States Department of Veteran Affairs are urged to continue working to educate victims of interpersonal violence, combat, life-threatening accidents, or natural disasters; their families; and the general public, about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of post-traumatic stress injury; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the United States Secretary of State and Secretary of Veteran Affairs; Governor; Director of Health; Director of the State Office of Veterans Services; and Executive Director of Honor For All.

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INDIANA (Perennial Resolution 2017)

Whereas, All citizens of the United States possess the basic human right to the preservation of personal dignity;

Whereas, All citizens of the United States deserve the investment of every possible resource to ensure their lasting 8 physical, mental, and emotional well-being;

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;

Whereas, The diagnosis now known as posttraumatic 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;

Whereas, Combat stress has historically been viewed as a mental illness caused by a pre-existing flaw of character and/or 6 ability, and the word “disorder” carries a stigma that perpetuates this misconception;

Whereas, Posttraumatic stress disorder can occur after experiencing a severely traumatic event to include, but not to be exclusive to, sexual assault, child abuse, high-impact collisions and crashes, natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and military combat;

Whereas, Posttraumatic stress disorder is a very common 14 injury to the brain that is treatable and repairable;

Whereas, Referring to the complications from posttraumatic 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;

Whereas, Making posttraumatic 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;

Whereas, Proper and timely treatment can diminish suicide rates; and

Whereas, All citizens suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder 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 acknowledgment:

Therefore, Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:

SECTION 1. That the Indiana House of Representatives encourages all Hoosiers to recognize June 27 as Posttraumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day and June as Posttraumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month. The Indiana House of Representatives urges the Indiana Department of Public Health and the Indiana Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to continue working to educate victims of abuse, crime and natural disaster, service members, veterans and their families, as well as the general public, about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of posttraumatic stress injury.

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IOWA (Proclamation 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)

WHEREAS, the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces proudly serve the United States and risk their lives to protect our freedom and deserve our caring and attention to their physical, mental and emotional well-being; and

WHEREAS, more than 2,500,000 of the United States’ service members have deployed as pan of overseas contingency operations since the events of September 11, 2001; many of our veterans return home with new challenges to fight and struggle with in their own silence; and

WHEREAS, hundreds of thousands of our service members have been clinically diagnosed with Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) — a condition affecting an estimated 7.7 million Americans; and

WHEREAS, Post-Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI) occurs after a person has experienced a trauma and can result from the stress of combat, as well as rape, sexual assault, battery, torture, confinement, child abuse, car accidents, train wrecks, plane crashes, bombings or natural disasters and is characterized by numerous symptoms including flashbacks, avoidance, hyper vigilance, nightmares, re-experiencing, anxiety, cognitive deficits, irritability, insomnia, fatigue and thoughts of suicide; and

WHEREAS, while post-traumatic stress has historically been viewed as a mental illness caused by a pre-existing flaw in the individual’s brain or character, it has been learned that post-traumatic stress is a very common injury to the brain that is treatable and repairable; and

WHEREAS, efforts should continue to make the condition less stigmatizing and more honorable in order to increase the number of those affected voluntarily seeking help and assistance; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Defense, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Institute of Mental Health have made significant advances in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of PTSI and the symptoms of PTSI; all citizens suffering from post-traumatic stress injury deserve recognition, and those who have received these wounds while serving to defend our freedom deserve our respect

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Kim Reynolds, Governor of the State of Iowa, do hereby proclaim June 27, 2018, as

POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY AWARENESS DAY in Iowa and the month of June 2018 as POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY AWARENESS MONTH

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KANSAS (Proclamation 2018)

WHEREAS, the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces – who proudly serve the United States and risk their lives to protect our freedom; deserve the investment of every possibJe resource to ensure their lasting physical, mental, and emotional well-being; and

WHEREAS, post-traumatic stress injury occurs after a person has experienced a trauma; and can result from not only the stress of combat, but also rape, sexual assault, battery, torture, confinement, child abuse, car accidents, train wrecks, plane crashes, bombings, or natural disaster; and

WHEREAS, post-traumatic stress has historically been viewed as a mental illness caused by a pre- existing flaw in the individual’s brain or character; and the term “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)” carries a stigma that perpetuates this misconception; and

WHEREAS, referring to post-traumatic stress injury as a disorder perpetuates the stigma of and bias against mental illness and the stigma discourages those suffering from post-traumatic stress from seeking proper and timely medical treatment; and

WHEREAS, making the condition less stigmatizing and more honorable can favorably influence those affected and encourage them to seek the help without fear of retribution or shame; and

WHEREAS, proper and timely treatment that can diminish suicide rates; and

WHEREAS, all citizens suffering from post-traumatic stress injury deserve recognition, while those who have received these wounds in service to our nation further deserve our respect and special honor.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Jeff Colyer, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF KANSAS, do hereby proclaim

June 27, 2018 as POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY AWARENESS DAY and

June 2018, as POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY AWARENESS MONTH

DONE: At the Capitol in Topeka under the Great Seal of the State this 31″ day of May, A.D. 2018

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KENTUCKY (Resolution 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2919, 2020, 2021)

A RESOLUTION designating June 27, 2019, as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day and designating June 2019 as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury 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 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 preexisting flaw of character 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 to include but not be exclusive 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 can diminish suicide rates; and

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

NOW, THEREFORE, Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:

Section 1. The House of Representatives is proud to honor the members and veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States by designating June 27, 2021, as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day and by designating June 2021 as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month.

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LOUISIANA (Resolution 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021)

HLS 21RS-168 ORIGINAL 2021 Regular Session HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 102 BY REPRESENTATIVE BAGLEY SPECIAL DAY/WEEK/MONTH:

Recognizes June 27, 2021, as Post-traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day in Louisiana

WHEREAS, all people have a right to the preservation of their personal dignity; and

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

WHEREAS, the diagnosis known as post-traumatic stress disorder was first defined by the American Psychiatric Association in 1980 in order to more accurately understand and treat veterans who endured severe, traumatic combat stress; and

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

WHEREAS, referring to 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, through the use of electro-magnetic imagining, the medical field has demonstrated that the condition of post-traumatic stress is more accurately described as an injury; and

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

WHEREAS, PTSI can occur as a result of severely traumatic events, including interpersonal violence, combat, life-threatening accidents, and natural disasters;

WHEREAS, destigmatizing PTSI and honoring the bravery of persons recovering from this injury can favorably influence those affected and encourage them to seek help without fear of retribution or shame; and

WHEREAS, all citizens suffering from PTSI deserve our compassion and consideration, and those who have received their wounds in action against an enemy of the United States further deserve our tribute and recognition; and

WHEREAS, proper and timely treatment can improve health outcomes and diminish

rates of suicide among people with PTSI.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby recognize June 27, 2021, as Post-traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day in Louisiana.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislature does hereby urge the Louisiana Department of Health and the Department of Veterans Affairs to increase efforts to educate survivors of interpersonal violence, combat, life-threatening accidents, and natural disasters, veterans and their families, and the general public about the causes, symptoms, and treatments of post-traumatic stress injury.

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 MAINE (Resolution 2019, 2020)

JOINT RESOLUTION DESIGNATING JUNE 27, 2020 AS POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY AWARENESS DAY

WHEREAS, all veterans of the United States Armed Forces possess the basic human right to the preservation of personal dignity and deserve the investment of every possible resource to ensure their lasting physical, mental and emotional well-being; and

WHEREAS, the diagnosis known as post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, was initially formulated in 1980 by the American Psychiatric Association to more accurately assess and assist veterans who had endured severe combat stress in Vietnam; and

WHEREAS, combat stress is an invisible wound that has historically been unjustly portrayed as a mental illness caused by a preexisting flaw of character or ability, and the word “disorder” carries a stigma that perpetuates this misconception; and

WHEREAS, it has been shown through electromagnetic imaging that these invisible wounds can cause physical changes to the brain that more accurately indicate an injury than a disorder; and

WHEREAS, referring to invisible wounds as a disorder may discourage the injured from seeking proper and timely medical treatment; and

WHEREAS, referring to invisible wounds as post-traumatic stress injury, or PTSI, is less stigmatizing and viewed as more honorable, and this designation can favorably influence those affected and encourage them to seek treatment without fear of retribution or shame; and

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

WHEREAS, post-traumatic stress injury satisfying the criteria for a diagnosis of post- traumatic stress disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders deserves disability compensation equal to that allowed for PTSD under the law; and

WHEREAS, while all citizens suffering post-traumatic stress injuries deserve our compassion and consideration, those brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces who have received these wounds in operational action against an enemy of the United States further deserve our clear and obvious recognition; and

WHEREAS, timely and appropriate treatment of post-traumatic stress injury can diminish complications and avert suicides; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED: That We, the Members of the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Legislature now assembled in the Second Regular Session, on behalf of the people we represent, take this opportunity to designate June 27, 2020 as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day

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MARYLAND (Proclamation 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)

WHEREAS, The brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces who proudly serve the United States and risk their lives to protect our freedom; deserve our great respect and support to ensure their physical, mental, and emotional well-being; and

WHEREAS, Post-traumatic stress can occur not only after a traumatic event experienced in combat, but also rape, sexual assault, battery, torture, confinement, child abuse, car accidents, train wreck, plane crashes, bombings, and/or natural disaster; and

WHEREAS, All citizens suffering from post-traumatic stress injury deserve our consideration, those who have received these wounds in service to our nation further deserve our respect and recognition; and

WHEREAS, Maryland joins in support of the work being done to educate service members, veterans, the families of service members and veterans, victims of abuse, crime and natural disaster, and the general  public about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of post-traumatic stress injury.

Now, therefore, I, Lawrence J. Hogan Jr., Governor of the state of Maryland, do hereby proclaim June 2019 as Post-traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month and June 27, 2019 as Post-traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day in Maryland, and do comm end this observance to all of our citizens.

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 MASSACHUSETTS (Proclamation 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)

Whereas, The brave  men and women of the ‘United States  armed forces– who proudly serve the ‘Unite a States and risk their lives to protect our freedom, deserve the investment of every possible{e resource to ensure their Casting physical, menta{, and emotional wellbeing; and

Whereas, Post-traumatic stress injury occurs after a person has experienced a trauma, and can result from not on{y the stress of combat, but also rape, sexual assault, battery, torture, confinement, child abuse, car accidents, train wrecks, plane crashes, bombings, or natural disaster; and

Whereas, Post-traumatic stress has historically been viewed as a mental illness caused by a pre–existing flaw in the individual’s brain or character; and the term “Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)” carries a stigma that perpetuates this misconception; and

Whereas, Referring to Post-traumatic stress injury as a disorder perpetuates the stigma of and bias against mental illness and the stigma discourages those suffering from post­traumatic stress from seeking proper and timely medical treatment; and

Whereas, Making the condition less stigmatizing and more honorable can favorably influence those affected and encourage them to seek the help without fear of retribution or shame; and

Whereas, Proper and timely treatment that can diminish suicide rates; and

Whereas, All citizens suffering from post-traumatic stress injury deserve recognition, while those who have received these wounds in service to our nation further deserve our respect and special honor,

Now, Therefore, I, Charles D. Baker, governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, herebyproclaim June 27th, 2021, to be POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY AWARENESS DAY

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 MICHIGAN (Resolution 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)

Whereas, The brave men and women of the United States (U.S.) Armed Forces, who proudly serve the United States, risk their lives to protect the freedom of the United States and deserve the investment of every possible resource to ensure their lasting physical, mental, and emotional well-being; and

Whereas, More than 2,000,000 U.S. service members have deployed as part of overseas contingency operations since the events of September 11, 2001; and

Whereas, The military has sustained an operational tempo for a period of time unprecedented in the history of the United States, with many service members deploying multiple times to combat zones, placing them at high risk of post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI); and

Whereas, It is expected that ten thousand veterans will return to the state of Michigan every year for the next three to five years after spending a significant amount of time in combat environments, exposing thousands of soldiers to traumatic life threatening events; and

Whereas, The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reports that in fiscal year 2012, more than 500,000 veterans from all wars who sought care at a Department of Veterans Affairs medical center received treatment for PTSI; and

Whereas, PTSI significantly increases the risk of depression, suicide, and drug or alcohol-related disorders and deaths; and

Whereas, Thousands of Michigan corrections professionals who perform a critical and dangerous job protecting the public suffer health detriments due to high stress and potentially traumatic occupational experiences. Recent studies have shown that nearly 33.7 percent of surveyed corrections officers are estimated to be PTSI positive in this state; and

Whereas, The U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs have made significant advances in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of PTSI and the symptoms of PTSI. However, many challenges remain; and

Whereas, The establishment of a Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day in Michigan will raise public awareness about issues related to PTSI; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate, That the members of this legislative body commemorate June 27, 2021, as Post Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day; and be it further

Resolved, That we urge the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency and the Adjutant General to continue working to educate service members, veterans, the families of service members and veterans, and the public about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of post-traumatic stress injury; and be it further

Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Governor of the state of Michigan.

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 MISSISSIPPI (Proclamation 2019)

WHEREAS, the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces – who proudly serve the United States and risk their lives to protect our freedom deserve the investment of every possible resource to ensure their lasting physical, mental, and emotional well-being; and

WHEREAS, severe post-traumatic stress injury is a disabling wound to the brain which can occur following exposure to extremely traumatic events such as interpersonal violence, combat, life­ threatening accidents, or natural disasters; and

WHEREAS, post-traumatic stress has historically been viewed as a mental illness caused by a pre-existing flaw in the individual’s brain or character, and the term “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)” carries a stigma that perpetuates this misconception; and

WHEREAS, referring to post-traumatic stress injury as a disorder perpetuates the stigma of and bias against mental illness, and the stigma discourages those suffering from post-traumatic stress from seeking proper and timely medical treatment; and

WHEREAS, making the condition less stigmatizing and more honorable can favorably influence those affected and encourage them to seek the help without fear of retribution or shame; and

WHEREAS, proper and timely treatment that can diminish suicide rates;

WHEREAS, all citizens suffering from post-traumatic stress injury deserve recognition, while those who have received these wounds in service to our nation further deserve our respect and special honor:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Phil Bryant, Governor of the State of Mississippi, do hereby proclaim June 27, 2019, as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day in the State of Mississippi and encourage our Veterans Affairs Agency, the Department of Health, and The Adjutant General to continue working to educate service members, veterans, the families of service members and veterans, victims of abuse, crime and natural disaster, and the general public about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of post-traumatic stress injury

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MISSOURI (Act of Law 2017)

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:

Section A.  Chapter 9, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be 2 known as section 9.270, to read as follows:

9.270. June twenty-seventh of each year shall be known and designated as “Posttraumatic Stress Injury Day”.

It is recommended to the people of the state that the day be appropriately observed through activities which will increase awareness of posttraumatic stress injury.

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MONTANA (Proclamation 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)

I am pleased to recognize June 27, 2019 as Post Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day in the state of Montana.

PTSI is a brain injury that develops after a person has experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. Veterans, first responders and survivors of violence commonly suffer from the effects of PTSI, and symptoms include persistent flashbacks, nightmares and anxiety. While PTSI can be treated if addressed in a proper and timely manner, the stigma surrounding PTSI prevents many people from reaching for the care they need and deserve.

We must do everything we can to eliminate this stigma so Montanans with PTSI feel comfortable seeking care and receiving support. []

Steve Bullock, Governor

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 NEBRASKA (Resolution 2019, 2020, 2021 Proclamation 2016, 2017, 2018)

WHEREAS, all individuals possess the basic human right to the preservation of personal dignity; and

WHEREAS, all individuals deserve the investment of the state’s resources to ensure their lasting physical, mental, and emotional well-being; and

WHEREAS, post-traumatic stress can result from any number of stressors including combat, interpersonal violence, severe impact collisions, natural disasters, and exposure to the suffering of others; and

WHEREAS, the diagnosis known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder was initially formulated in 1980 by the American Psychiatric Association to commonly describe and categorize the psychological aftermath of severe traumatic distress; and

WHEREAS, post-traumatic stress has historically been unjustly portrayed as a mental illness caused by a preexisting flaw of character or ability, and association with the word “disorder” generates a stigma that perpetuates this misconception; and

WHEREAS, electro-magnetic imaging now shows that severe post-traumatic stress causes physical changes within the brain which are more accurately described as an injury than a disorder; and

WHEREAS, referring to post-traumatic stress as a disorder can disparage the injured and discourage them from seeking timely care for their behavioral health needs; and

WHEREAS, post-traumatic stress injury that is consistent with the description of post-traumatic stress disorder in section 309.81 criteria B through H of the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders deserves equal compensation strictly matching that currently allowed under the law for post-traumatic stress disorder; and

WHEREAS, all citizens suffering from post-traumatic stress injury deserve our compassion and consideration and the brave men and women who received these wounds while risking their lives to protect our freedom, health, and welfare deserve special recognition of their bravery, commitment, devotion, and sacrifice; and

WHEREAS, timely access to appropriate treatment of post-traumatic stress injury can diminish complications and prevent suicide.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE ONE HUNDRED SEVENTH

LEGISLATURE OF NEBRASKA, FIRST SESSION:

That the Legislature recognizes June 2021 as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month and June 27, 2021, as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day in Nebraska.

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NEW HAMPSHIRE (Act of Law 2018)

This bill establishes June 27 as post-traumatic stress injury awareness day and June as post-traumatic stress injury awareness month.

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eighteen

AN ACT proclaiming June as post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) awareness month.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1  New Section; Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day and Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month.  Amend RSA 4 by inserting after section 13-v the following new section:

4:13-w  Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day and Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month.  The governor shall annually proclaim June 27 as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI) Awareness Day and June as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI) Awareness Month.  The governor shall urge cities and towns throughout the state to observe the dates in an appropriate manner in recognition of the citizens of this state affected by post-traumatic stress injuries (PTSI) and the need for continued public outreach and education regarding the causes, symptoms, and treatment of PTSI.

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NEW JERSEY (Perennial Resolution 2016)

WHEREAS, Post-traumatic stress can occur after a person experiences trauma including, but not limited to the stress of combat, rape, sexual assault, child abuse, bombings, accidents and natural disasters, and affects over approximately 8,500,000 adults in the United States annually; and

WHEREAS, Post-traumatic stress is associated with chemical changes in the body’s hormonal system and autonomic nervous system, and is characterized by symptoms including flashbacks, nightmares, insomnia, avoidance, hypervigilance, anxiety, and depression; and

WHEREAS, The brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces, who proudly serve the nation and risk their lives to protect our freedom, deserve the investment of every possible resource to ensure their lasting physical, mental, and emotional well-being; and

WHEREAS, Combat-related post-traumatic stress among our men and women in the Armed Forces is significantly pronounced, given that they are often exposed to highly traumatic events for weeks, months, and even years; and

WHEREAS, Between 10 and 30 percent of service members will develop post-traumatic stress within a year of leaving combat, while others may not develop symptoms until years later; and

WHEREAS, Despite its treatability, many cases of post-traumatic stress remain undiagnosed and untreated due to a lack of awareness of this condition and the persistent stigma associated with mental health conditions; and

WHEREAS, Historically, post-traumatic stress was viewed as a mental illness caused by a preexisting flaw of character, ability, or both, and the term “post-traumatic stress disorder” or “PTSD” carries a stigma that further perpetuates this misconception; and

WHEREAS, Raising awareness of this condition is necessary to remove the stigma and to encourage those suffering to seek proper and timely treatment that may save their lives; and

WHEREAS, All citizens suffering from post-traumatic stress injury deserve our consideration, and those who are affected by posttraumatic stress injury from wounds received while protecting our freedom, deserve our respect and special honor; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:  June 27 of each year is designated as “Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day” in the State of New Jersey to bring awareness to those suffering from post-traumatic stress injury and to encourage people to reach out to their fellow citizens to provide support and remove the stigma associated with this injury.

The Governor is respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and citizens of this State to observe “Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day” with appropriate activities and programs

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NEW YORK (Resolution 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021)

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 2021, as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month, and June 27,2021, as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day in the State of New York

   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 known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was initially formulated in 1980 by the American Psychiatric Association to more accurately assess and assist veterans who had endured severe combat stress in Vietnam; and

   WHEREAS, It has been shown though electro-magnetic imaging that these wounds can cause physical changes to the brain which are more accurately describe as an injury; and

   WHEREAS, Referring to invisible wounds as post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) can favorably influence those affected and encourage them to seek treatment without fear of retribution or shame; and

  WHEREAS, Post-traumatic stress injury can occur following exposure to extremely traumatic events other than combat such as, but not exclusive to interpersonal violence, life-threatening accidents and natural disasters; 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 clear and obvious recognition; and

   WHEREAS, Timely and appropriate treatment of post-traumatic stress injury can diminish complications and avert suicides; now, therefore, be it

   RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 2021, as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month, and June 27, 2021, as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day in the State of New York

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 NORTH CAROLINA (Act of Law 2019)

AN ACT DESIGNATING POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY AWARENESS DAY IN NORTH CAROLINA;

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 known as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was initially formulated in 1980 by the American Psychiatric Association to more accurately assess and assist veterans who had endured severe combat stress in Vietnam; and

Whereas, combat stress is an invisible wound which has historically been unjustly portrayed as a mental illness caused by a preexisting flaw of character or ability and that the word “disorder” carries a stigma which perpetuates this misconception; and

Whereas, it has been shown through electromagnetic imaging that these invisible wounds can cause physical changes to the brain that more accurately describe an injury than a disorder; and

Whereas, referring to invisible wounds as a disorder can discourage the injured from seeking proper and timely medical treatment; and

Whereas, referring to invisible wounds as posttraumatic stress injury (PTSI) is less stigmatizing and viewed as more honorable, and this designation can favorably influence those affected and encourage them to seek treatment without fear of retribution or shame; and

Whereas, PTSI can occur following exposure to extremely traumatic events other than combat such as interpersonal violence, life-threatening accidents, and natural disasters; and

Whereas, PTSI satisfying criteria A through H of the diagnosis for PTSD in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual deserves disability compensation equal to that allowed for PTSD under the law; and

Whereas, timely and appropriate treatment of PTSI can diminish complications and avert suicides; and

Whereas, all citizens suffering PTSIs deserve our compassion and consideration; those brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces who have received these wounds in operational action against an enemy of the United States further deserve our clear and obvious recognition;

Now, therefore, The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

PART I. DESIGNATE POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY AWARENESS DAY SECTION 1. Chapter 103 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read: “§ 103-15. Posttraumatic stress injury awareness. Session Law 2019-225 Senate Bill 458 June 27 of each year is designated as Posttraumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day in North Carolina.”

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NORTH DAKOTA (Act of Law 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 lasting physical, mental, and emotional well-being; and

WHEREAS, the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces proudly serve the United States and risk their lives to protect our freedom; and

WHEREAS, the diagnosis known as posttraumatic stress disorder 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 or ability and the word “disorder” carries a stigma that perpetuates this misconception; and

WHEREAS, posttraumatic stress injury can occur after experiencing a severely traumatic event, including sexual assault, child abuse, high-impact collisions and crashes, natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and military combat; and

WHEREAS, posttraumatic stress injury is a very common injury to the brain that is treatable and repairable; and

WHEREAS, the North Dakota Cares Coalition and state agencies, including thev Department of Human Services, the State Department of Health, and the Department  of Veterans’ Affairs, continue to educate victims of abuse, crime, and natural disaster, and their families; service members; veterans, their families, and survivors; and the general public about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of posttraumatic stress injury; and Sixty-fifth Legislative Assembly

WHEREAS, referring to the complications from posttraumatic 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 posttraumatic stress injury 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 can diminish suicide rates; and

WHEREAS, all citizens suffering from posttraumatic 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 acknowledgment;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF NORTH DAKOTA, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN: That the Sixty-fifth Legislative Assembly declares June 27, 2017, and each June 27 thereafter, as “Posttraumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day” and the month of June 2017, and each June thereafter, as “Posttraumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month”.

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OHIO (Proclamation 2016, 2017,)

* Missing – lost in hard drive crash of 2018, unable to recover.

Signed by Governor John Kasich

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OKLAHOMA (Perennial Resolution 2017)

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

WHEREAS, all citizens 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 U.S. Armed Forces proudly serve and risk their lives to protect our freedom; and

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

WHEREAS, post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) can occur after experiencing a severely traumatic event including, among others, sexual assault, child abuse, high-impact collisions and crashes, natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and military combat; and

WHEREAS, PTSI is a very common brain injury 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, which can discourage the injured from seeking proper and timely medical treatment; and

WHEREAS, proper and timely treatment can diminish suicide rates; and

WHEREAS, all citizens suffering from PTSI deserve our compassion and acknowledgement, including those who have suffered trauma while serving our country.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE 1ST SESSION OF THE 56TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:

THAT the Oklahoma Senate proclaims June 27th as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI) Awareness Day in Oklahoma.

THAT the Oklahoma Senate designates June as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month in Oklahoma.

THAT the Oklahoma State Senate urges the state Departments of Health and Veterans Affairs to continue educating victims of abuse, crime and natural disaster, service members, veterans and their families, as well as the general public, about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of post-traumatic stress injury.

THAT a copy of this resolution be distributed to Governor Mary Fallin and Thomas Mahany, Executive Director of Honor for ALL

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OREGON (Act of Law 2018)

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 of post-traumatic stress disorder was first classified by the American Psychiatric Association in 1980 to commonly  and  more  accurately  understand  and  treat  veterans who had endured severe combat operational stress; and

Whereas combat operational stress has historically been unjustly portrayed as a mental illness caused by a preexisting flaw of character or ability, and the term “disorder” carries a stigma that perpetuates this misconception; and

Whereas referring to the complications from combat operational stress as a “disorder” perpetuates the stigma of and bias against mental illness, and may discourage those affected from seeking proper and timely medical treatment; and

Whereas the term “injury” may be less stigmatizing; and

Whereas post-traumatic stress injury can  occur  following  exposure  to  extremely  traumatic events including, but not limited to, interpersonal violence, combat, life-threatening accidents and  natural disasters; and

Whereas post-traumatic stress injury is a very common injury to the brain that is treatable and repairable; and

Whereas making post-traumatic stress injury less stigmatizing and more honorable can favorably influence  persons  who  are 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, and the brave members of the Armed Forces of the United States who have received    these wounds in action against enemies of the United States deserve our special tribute and acknowledgement; now, therefore,

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1.

(1) The Legislative Assembly designates: June 27 of each year as Oregon Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day; and the month of June as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month.

The Assembly respectfully urges the Oregon Health Authority, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the Oregon Military Department to continue working to educate victims of interpersonal violence, combat, life-threatening accidents and natural disasters and their families, as well as the general public, about the causes, symptoms and treatment of post-traumatic stress injury.

SECTION 2. This 2018 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2018 Act takes effect on its passage.

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PENNSYLVANIA (Resolution 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021)

Whereas, The House of Representatives of Pennsylvania is recognizing June 27, 2021, as Post­ Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day and June 2021 as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month in Pennsylvania; and

Whereas, United States citizens have the basic human right to the preservation of personal dignity and deserve the investment of every possible resource to ensure their lasting physical, mental and emotional well-being. We have a role in the recovery of Holocaust survivors, military personnel and other people in the aftermath of violent, traumatic or life-threatening events. Certain individuals may seek assistance under the Americans with Disabilities Act. In 1980, the American Psychiatric Association formulated criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder and published its findings in the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition. “Public health officials and mental health professionals are using the term post-traumatic stress injury to describe the biological, psychological and social effects of persistent traumatic stress. These invisible wounds, incurred from experiencing or witnessing traumatic events, were once characterized as a sign of weakness. Stigma and self-stigma continue to surround post-traumatic stress injury, and timely and appropriate treatment can reduce complications and suicidal behaviors. We owe trauma-exposed individuals and their families appropriate medical and supportive care and the greatest degree of compassion to sustain their dignity and our shared humanity. This Commonwealth’s health care community is currently experiencing extreme and unprecedented daily emotional trauma due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now therefore, the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania joins with all Pennsylvania residents in observing Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day and Post­ Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month in Pennsylvania; recognizes the work being done on behalf of individuals and families with trauma history;

And directs that a copy of this citation, sponsored by the Honorable Karen Boback, be presented in recognition oj Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day and Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month in Pennsylvania.

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RHODE ISLAND (Perennial Resolution 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

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SOUTH CAROLINA (Act of Law 2016)

Whereas, the brave men and women who proudly serve the United States Armed Forces by risking their lives to protect our nation and its ideals deserve the investment of all possible resources to their long‑term psychological, physical and emotional health; and

Whereas, the acronym PTSI refers to the term post‑traumatic stress injury; and

Whereas, post‑traumatic stress injury occurs after a person has experienced severe trauma and can result from the stress produced in combat, as well as in car accidents, plane crashes, bombings, child abuse or natural disaster; and

Whereas, post‑traumatic stress injuries can be characterized by numerous symptoms including flashbacks, avoidance, hyper‑vigilance, depression, anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, and thoughts of suicide; and

Whereas, more than two million American service men and women have been deployed by the United States Armed Forces since September 11, 2001; and

Whereas, many members of the United States Armed Forces deploy more than once, increasing the risk of developing post‑traumatic stress injuries; and

Whereas, the reference to the word “disorder” when describing a post‑traumatic stress injury may imply a negative connotation; and

Whereas, this negative connotation can discourage United States Armed Forces service men and women, as well as other citizens who experience post‑traumatic stress injuries from seeking and receiving aid; and

Whereas, the establishment of Post‑Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day would raise public awareness of the injury; and

Whereas, the establishment of Post‑Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day also would increase awareness of the need to develop effective treatments and aid the effort to eliminate any negative stigmas associated with post‑traumatic stress injuries.  Now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

PTSI Awareness Day designated

SECTION1.Chapter 3, Title 53 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

“Section 53‑3‑205. June twenty‑seventh of each year is designated as South Carolina Post‑Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI) Awareness Day.

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Approved the 21^st day of April, 2016.

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SOUTH DAKOTA (Perennial Resolution 2019)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION, Urging greater awareness and understanding of post-traumatic stress injury.

 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 known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was initially formulatedin1980by the American Psychiatric Association to assess and assist veterans who endured severe combat stress in Vietnam; and

WHEREAS, citizens exposed to extremely traumatic events other than combat, including rape, sexual assault, battery, torture, confinement, child abuse, car accidents, train wrecks, plane crashes, bombings, and natural disasters have also been diagnosed with PTSD; and

WHEREAS, it has been shown through electro- magnetic imaging that post-traumatic stress is an invisible wound that can lead to physical change to the brain  and,  as such, should be viewed as an injury rather than a disorder and stigmatized as a pre-existing flaw of character or ability; and

WHEREAS, post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) is a less stigmatizing label than PTSD for citizens who directly or indirectly experience a traumatic event or stressor that results in        symptoms that persist and conform with criteria  B through  H in  the Diagnostic Statistical Manual, and this less stigmatizing label may favorably influence and encourage these citizens to seek timely treatment without fear of retribution or shame and thereby alleviate pain and suffering and avert suicides; and

WHEREAS, all citizens suffering from PTSI deserve our compassion and consideration, especially the brave men and women who sustain this injury in service to our nation; and

WHEREAS, timely and appropriate treatment of PTSI can diminish complications and avert suicides:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the House of Representatives of the Ninety -Fifth Legislature of the State of South Dakota, the Senate concurring therein, that:

The twenty-seventh day of June of each year be designated as Post -Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day; and

The month June of each year be designated as Post -Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month

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TENNESSEE (Act of Law 2019)

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 known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was initially formulated in 1980 by the American Psychiatric Association to more accurately assess and assist veterans who had endured severe combat stress in Vietnam; and

WHEREAS, combat stress is an invisible wound, which has historically been unjustly portrayed as a mental illness caused by a preexisting flaw of character or ability, and that the word “disorder” carries a stigma which perpetuates this misconception; and

WHEREAS, it has been shown through electromagnetic imaging that these invisible wounds can cause physical changes to the brain that more accurately describe an injury than a disorder; and

WHEREAS, referring to invisible wounds as a disorder can discourage the injured from seeking proper and timely medical treatment; and

WHEREAS, referring to invisible wounds as post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) is less stigmatizing and viewed as more honorable, and this designation can favorably influence those affected and encourage them to seek treatment without fear of retribution or shame; and

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

WHEREAS, post-traumatic stress injury satisfying criteria A through H of the diagnosis for post-traumatic stress disorder in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual deserves disability compensation equal to that allowed for PTSD under the law; and

WHEREAS, all citizens suffering post-traumatic stress injuries deserve our compassion and consideration, those brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces who have received these wounds in operational action against an enemy of the United States further deserve our clear and obvious recognition; and

WHEREAS, timely and appropriate treatment of post-traumatic stress injury can diminish complications and avert suicides; now, therefore,

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 15, Chapter 2, is amended by adding the following as a new section:

June 27 of each year is to be observed as “Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day”, to be proclaimed as such by the governor, to promote awareness of persons suffering from post-traumatic stress injury.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.

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TEXAS (Perennial Resolution 2017)

WHEREAS, The brave men and women of our nation’s armed forces regularly risk their lives in defense of our freedoms, and as a result, many suffer from the serious effects of post-traumatic stress; and

WHEREAS, In 1980, the American Psychiatric Association crafted the term “post-traumatic stress disorder” to diagnose the effects of traumatic stress suffered by combat veterans, first responders, and victims of crime, abuse, or natural disasters; and

WHEREAS, Unfortunately, the term PTSD may carry a negative connotation for some, discouraging them from seeking treatment due to the perception that the word “disorder” indicates weakness or mental illness in the individual who suffers from post-traumatic stress; and

WHEREAS, Research utilizing electromagnetic imaging has demonstrated that combat and other traumatic stress can cause

actual physical changes in the brain, leading to psychological symptoms and change in behavior; as a result, a movement has arisen that hopes to change the official diagnosis, in certain cases, from PTSD to “post-traumatic stress injury,” or PTSI; and

WHEREAS, A leader in these advocacy efforts is the veterans organization Honor for All, which is dedicated to eliminating the

Stigma attached to post-traumatic stress, to preserving the dignity of the injured, and to helping them avert impulsive or dangerous behavior which might lead to suicide; and

WHEREAS, Under the motto “Visible Honor for Invisible Wounds,” the organization is engaged in a national effort to introduce the term “injury” into the vernacular when discussing post-traumatic stress that arises as a result of changes in the

brain; this simple change can help encourage individuals to seek timely treatment without fear of retribution or shame; and

WHEREAS, The nation’s military veterans who have suffered the hidden wounds of post-traumatic stress injury while serving our nation are truly entitled to every possible resource to ensure their lasting physical, mental, and emotional well-being; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the month of June be recognized as

Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month in the State of Texas.

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UTAH (Resolution 2016, 2017, 2018)

Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:

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

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

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;

WHEREAS, combat stress injury has historically been unjustly portrayed as a mental illness caused by a pre-existing flaw of character or ability;

WHEREAS, the word “disorder” carries a stigma that perpetuates this misconception;

WHEREAS, post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) may occur following exposure to extremely traumatic events including interpersonal violence, combat, life-threatening accidents,or natural disasters;

WHEREAS, public service dispatchers and first responders, by the nature of their professions, are also susceptible to post traumatic stress injury;

WHEREAS, PTSI is a very common injury to the brain that is treatable and repairable;

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

WHEREAS, this stigma can discourage the injured from seeking proper and timely medical treatment;

WHEREAS, making PTSI less stigmatizing and more honorable can favorably influence those affected and encourage them to seek treatment without fear of retribution or shame;

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

WHEREAS, all citizens 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 further deserve our special tribute and acknowledgment:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah designates June 27, 2018, as Utah Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah designates June 2018 as Utah Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month.

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VERMONT (Resolution 2018)

 HCR 371 designating Wednesday, June 27, 2018 as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day

Offered by: Representatives Copeland-Hanzas of Bradford, Dunn of Essex, Haas of Rochester, Houghton of Essex, Jickling of Randolph, McFaun of Barre Town, Mrowicki of Putney, Pajala of Londonderry, Pugh of South Burlington, Rosenquist of Georgia, Troiano of Stannard, and Wood of Waterbury

Whereas, in 1980, the American Psychiatric Association created the term Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to describe the severe combat stress that Vietnam veterans were experiencing, and

Whereas, since 1980, technological advances in electromagnetic imaging have documented that severe post-traumatic stress can cause physical changes within a person’s brain, and

Whereas, it is more accurate to describe these physical changes as an injury rather than a disorder or, in other words, as a wound and not a weakness, and

Whereas, the word “disorder” conveys a negative image that can discourage some individuals from seeking treatment and others from caring about those who are injured, and

Whereas, equally important, the use of the term “disorder” in relation to combat stress assails the sense of honor that should be associated with any member of the U.S. Armed Forces injured in combat, and

Whereas, beyond those injured in military combat, using the term is demeaning to first responders, abuse and crime victims, witnesses and survivors of life-threatening accidents and natural disasters, and their family members, and

Whereas, the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, distinguishes between common post-traumatic stress, resulting in a traumatized but uninjured brain, and the more debilitating and longer-lasting form of stress that does involve a brain injury, and

Whereas, an alternative description for the more debilitating form of post-traumatic stress is Post-Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI), and

Whereas, the term PTSI preserves the medical distinction between the short and long-term types of post-traumatic stress while removing the unjustified stigma associated with the term disorder, and

Whereas, the Honor for ALL organization, with the support of the National Guard and mental health advocacy and veterans groups, is working to encourage a national awareness of the extreme importance of replacing the term PTSD with PTSI for describing post-traumatic stress resulting in a brain injury, and in 2017, 34 states and the U.S. House of Representatives acknowledged the importance of this effort, now therefore be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives: That the General Assembly designates

Wednesday, June 27, 2018 as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day, and be it further

Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to the Honor for ALL organization in Royal Oak, Michigan.

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VIRGINIA (Perennial Resolution 2016)

WHEREAS, the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces, who proudly serve the United States and risk their lives to protect the freedom all Americans hold dear, deserve the investment of every possible resource to ensure their lasting physical, mental, and emotional well-being; and

WHEREAS, post-traumatic stress injury occurs after a person has experienced a traumatic event and can result not only from the stress of combat, but also from rape, sexual assault, battery, torture, confinement, child abuse, car accidents, train wrecks, plane crashes, bombings, and natural disasters; and

WHEREAS, post-traumatic stress has historically been viewed as a mental illness caused by a preexisting flaw in an individual’s brain or character; the term post-traumatic stress disorder, commonly known as PTSD, carries a stigma that perpetuates this misconception; and

WHEREAS, the stigma created by referring to post-traumatic stress injury as a disorder or mental illness discourages those suffering from post-traumatic stress from seeking proper and timely medical treatment; and

WHEREAS, removing the stigma of post-traumatic stress can favorably influence the lives of those affected by the condition and encourage them to seek help without fear of retribution or shame; proper and timely treatment can decrease suicide rates related to post-traumatic stress; and

WHEREAS, all citizens suffering from post-traumatic stress injury deserve recognition and support, and those who have been wounded in service to the nation have earned special honor and respect; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly designate June 27, in 2016 and in each succeeding year, as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day in Virginia; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates transmit a copy of this resolution to Major General Timothy P. Williams, Adjutant General of Virginia, so that members of the Virginia National Guard and veterans in the Commonwealth may be apprised of the sense of the General Assembly of Virginia in this matter; and, be it

RESOLVED FINALLY, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates post the designation of this day on the General Assembly’s webs

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WASHINGTON (Perennial Resolution 2019)

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 known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was first defined by the American Psychiatric Association in 1980 to more accurately understand and treat veterans who had endured severe operational combat stress; and

WHEREAS, Combat stress injuries have historically been unjustly portrayed as a mental illness caused by a preexisting flaw of character or ability, and that 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 disorder perpetuates the stigma of and bias against mental illness; and

WHEREAS, It has been shown through electromagnetic imaging that the condition 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, but not limited to, interpersonal violence, combat, life-threatening accidents, or natural disasters; and WHEREAS, Referring to the condition as post-traumatic stress

injury (PTSI) is less stigmatizing and viewed as more honorable, and this designation can favorably influence those affected and encourage them to seek treatment without fear of retribution or shame; and

WHEREAS, All citizens suffering from a post-traumatic stress injury deserve our compassion and consideration, and 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 acknowledgment; and

WHEREAS, post-traumatic stress injury is an injury that is repairable, and that timely treatment can diminish complications and prevent suicides among the injured;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the importance of educating victims of interpersonal violence, combat, life-threatening accidents, and natural disaster and their families, as well as the general public, about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of post-traumatic stress injuries.

I, Brad Hendrickson, Secretary of the Senate, do hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of Senate Resolution 8625, adopted by the Senate 26 March 18, 2019

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WEST VIRGINIA (Perennial Resolution 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 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 can occur after experiencing a severely traumatic event to include, but not be exclusive to: Sexual assault, child abuse, high-impact collisions and crashes, natural disasters, acts of terrorism and military combat; and

Whereas, Post-Traumatic Stress Injury 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 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 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: therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate hereby designates June as West Virginia Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month and June 27 as West Virginia Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day;

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WISCONSIN (Perennial Resolution 2012)

Senate Joint Resolution 48.

Relating to: recognizing June 27 as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day and June as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month.

Whereas, all citizens possess the basic human right to the preservation of personal dignity; and

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

Whereas, post-traumatic stress can result from any number of stressors that include combat, interpersonal violence, severe impact collisions, natural disaster, and exposure to the suffering of others; and

Whereas, the diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was formulated in 1980 by the American Psychiatric Association to describe and categorize the psychological aftermath of severe traumatic distress; and

Whereas, post-traumatic stress has historically been portrayed unjustly as a mental illness caused by a preexisting flaw of character or ability, and association with the word “disorder” generates a stigma which perpetuates this misconception; and

Whereas, electro-magnetic imaging has shown that severe post-traumatic stress causes physical changes within the brain that are more accurately described as an injury than a disorder; and

Whereas, referring to post-traumatic stress as a disorder can disparage the injured and discourage them from seeking timely care for their behavioral health  needs; and

Whereas, post-traumatic stress injury exhibiting compliance with criteria B through H of § 309.81 in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic Statistical Manual deserves compensation strictly matching that presently allowed under the law for post-traumatic stress disorder; and

Whereas, all citizens suffering from post-traumatic stress injury deserve our compassion and consideration, especially the brave men and women who received these wounds while risking their lives to protect our freedom, health, and welfare and who deserve special recognition of their gallantry, commitment, devotion, and sacrifice; and

Whereas, timely access to appropriate treatment of post-traumatic stress injury can diminish complications and prevent suicide; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the senate, the assembly concurring, That the Wisconsin State Legislature designates June 27 as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day, designates June as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month, and encourages all Wisconsinites to join in this worthy observance; and, be it further

Resolved, That the Wisconsin State Legislature respectfully urges the Department of Health Services and Department of Veterans Affairs to continue to educate victims of interpersonal violence, combat, life-threatening accidents, or natural disasters, as well as their families and the general public, about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of post-traumatic stress injury; and,

be it further

Resolved, That the Wisconsin State Legislature directs that this resolution be transmitted to the governor and encourages the governor to issue a proclamation to the same effect as this resolution.

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 WYOMING (Proclamation 2019)

WHEREAS, the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces – who proudly serve the United States and risk their lives to protect our freedom; deserve the investment of every possible resource to ensure their lasting physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

WHEREAS, severe post-traumatic stress injury is a disabling wound to the brain which can occur following exposure to extremely traumatic events such as, but not exclusive to: interpersonal violence, combat, life-threatening accidents or natural disasters;

WHEREAS, post-traumatic stress has historically been viewed as a mental illness caused by a pre-existing flaw in the individual’s brain or character; and the term “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)” carries a stigma that perpetuates this misconception;

WHEREAS, referring to post-traumatic stress injury as a disorder perpetuates the stigma of and bias against mental illness and the stigma discourages those suffering from post-traumatic stress from seeking proper and timely medical treatment;

WHEREAS, making the condition less stigmatizing and more honorable can favorably influence those affected and encourage them to seek the help without fear of retribution or shame.

WHEREAS proper and timely treatment that can diminish suicide rates and

WHEREAS, all citizens suffering from post-traumatic stress injury deserve recognition, while those who have received these wounds in service to our nation further deserve our respect and special honor:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, MARK GORDON, Governor of the State of Wyoming do hereby proclaim June 27, 2019 as POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY AWARENESS DAY

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES  (Resolution 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)

Expressing support for the designation of the month of June 2021 as ‘‘National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Aware[1]ness Month’’ and June 27, 2021, as ‘‘National Post[1]Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day

Whereas the brave men and women of the Armed Forces, who proudly serve the United States, risk their lives to protect the freedom of the people of the United States and deserve the investment of every possible resource to ensure their lasting physical, mental, and emotional well- being;

Whereas more than 2,770,000 members of the Armed Forces have deployed overseas since the events of September 11, 2001, and have served in places such as Afghanistan and Iraq;

Whereas the current generation of men and women in the Armed Forces has sustained a high rate of operational deployments, with many members of the Armed Forces serving overseas multiple times, placing those members at high risk of experiencing combat stress;

Whereas, when left untreated, exposure to traumatic combat stress can lead to post-traumatic stress injury, currently referred to in the ‘‘Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders’’ as post-traumatic stress disorder (in this preamble referred to as ‘‘PTSD’’);

Whereas men and women of the Armed Forces and veterans who served before September 11, 2001, remain at risk for post-traumatic stress injury;

Whereas the Secretary of Veterans Affairs reports that ap- proximately 11 to 20 percent of veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom have PTSD in a given year 12 percent of veterans who served in the Persian Gulf war have PTSD in a given year; and 30 percent of veterans who served in the Vietnam era have had PTSD in their lifetimes;

Whereas many combat stress injuries remain unreported, undiagnosed, and untreated due to a lack of awareness about post-traumatic stress injury and the persistent stigma associated with mental health conditions;

Whereas exposure to trauma during service in the Armed Forces can lead to post-traumatic stress injury;

Whereas post-traumatic stress injury significantly increases the risk of anxiety, depression, suicide, homelessness, and drug- and alcohol-related disorders and deaths, especially if left untreated;

Whereas public perceptions of post-traumatic stress injury or other mental health disorders create unique challenges for veterans seeking employment;

Whereas the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and veterans service organizations, as well as the larger medical community, both private and public, have made significant advances in the identification, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of post-traumatic stress injury and the symptoms of post-traumatic stress injury, but many challenges remain;

Whereas increased understanding of post-traumatic stress in- jury can help to eliminate the stigma attached to this mental health issue;

Whereas additional efforts are needed to find further ways to eliminate the stigma associated with post-traumatic stress injury, including an examination of how post-traumatic stress in- jury is discussed in the United States; and a recognition that post-traumatic stress injury is a common injury that is treatable;

Whereas post-traumatic stress injury can result from any number of stressors other than combat, including rape, sexual assault, battery, torture, confinement, child abuse, car accidents, train wrecks, plane crashes, bombings, or natural disasters, and affects approximately 8,000,000 adults in the United States annually;

Whereas the diagnosis now known as 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;

Whereas the word ‘‘disorder’’ perpetuates the stigma associated with combat stress; and

Whereas the designation of a National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month and a National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day will raise public awareness about issues related to post-traumatic stress injury, re- duce the associated stigma, and help ensure that those individuals suffering from the invisible wounds of war receive proper treatment:

Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) supports the designation of ‘‘National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month’’ and ‘‘National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day’’;

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 US SENATE (Resolution 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)

Designating June 2021 as “National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month” and June 27, 2021, as “National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day”.

Whereas the brave men and women of the Armed Forces, who proudly serve the United States—

(1) risk their lives to protect the freedom, health, and welfare of the people of the United States; and

Whereas, since the events of September 11, 2001, nearly 2,800,000 members of the Armed Forces have deployed overseas and served in places such as Afghanistan and Iraq;

Whereas the current generation of men and women in the Armed Forces has sustained a high rate of operational deployments, with many members of the Armed Forces serving overseas multiple times, placing those members at high risk of enduring traumatic combat stress;

Whereas, when left untreated, exposure to traumatic combat stress can lead to severe and chronic post-traumatic stress responses, which are commonly referred to as post-traumatic stress disorder (referred to in this preamble as “PTSD”) or post-traumatic stress injury;

Whereas many men and women of the Armed Forces and veterans who served before September 11, 2001, live with mental health needs from post-traumatic stress and remain at risk for responses to that stress;

Whereas many post-traumatic stress responses remain unreported, undiagnosed, and untreated due to a lack of awareness about post-traumatic stress and the persistent stigma associated with mental health conditions;

Whereas post-traumatic stress significantly increases the risk of post-traumatic stress responses, including anxiety, depression, homelessness, substance abuse, and suicide, especially if left untreated;

Whereas the Secretary of Veterans Affairs reports that—

(1) between 11 and 20 percent of veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom have post-traumatic stress in a given year;

Whereas public perceptions of post-traumatic stress as a mental health disorder create unique challenges for veterans seeking employment;

Whereas the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, veterans service organizations, and the private and public medical community have made significant advances in the identification, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of post-traumatic stress and the symptoms of post-traumatic stress, but many challenges remain;

Whereas increased understanding of post-traumatic stress can help eliminate stigma attached to the mental health issues of post-traumatic stress;

Whereas additional efforts are needed to find further ways to eliminate the stigma associated with post-traumatic stress, including—

(1) an examination of how post-traumatic stress is discussed in the United States; and

Whereas timely and appropriate treatment of post-traumatic stress responses can diminish complications and avert suicides;

Whereas post-traumatic stress—

(1) can result from any number of stressors other than combat, including rape, sexual assault, battery, torture, confinement, child abuse, car accidents, train wrecks, plane crashes, bombings, natural disasters, or global pandemics; and

Whereas traumatic events such as the COVID–19 pandemic could—

(1) increase the number of individuals impacted by post-traumatic stress; or

Whereas the diagnosis of PTSD was first defined by the American Psychiatric Association in 1980 to commonly and more accurately understand and treat survivors of physical and psychological trauma, including veterans who had endured severe traumatic combat stress;

Whereas the word “disorder” can perpetuate the stigma associated with combat stress, so the more general term “post-traumatic stress” is often preferred; and

Whereas the designation of a National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month and a National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day raises public awareness about issues relating to post-traumatic stress, reduces the stigma associated with post-traumatic stress, and helps ensure that individuals suffering from the invisible wounds of war receive proper treatment: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate—

(1) designates—

(A) June 2021 as “National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month”; and