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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, All citizens of the United States possess the
3basic human right to the preservation of personal dignity; and
 
4    WHEREAS, All citizens of the United States deserve the
5investment of every possible resource to ensure their lasting
6physical, mental, and emotional well-being; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was first
8defined by the American Psychiatric Association in 1980 to more
9accurately understand and treat veterans who had endured severe
10operational combat stress; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Combat stress injuries have historically been
12unjustly portrayed as a mental illness caused by a preexisting
13flaw of character or ability, and the word "disorder" has
14carried a stigma that perpetuates this misconception, which can
15discourage the injured from seeking proper and timely medical
16treatment; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Referring to the complications from combat
18operational stress as a disorder perpetuates the stigma of and
19bias against mental illness; and
 
20    WHEREAS, It has been shown though electro-magnetic imaging

 

 

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1that the condition is more accurately described as an injury;
2and
 
3    WHEREAS, Severe post-traumatic stress is a very common and
4treatable injury to the brain that can occur following exposure
5to extremely traumatic events, such as interpersonal violence,
6combat, life-threatening accidents, or natural disasters; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Referring to the condition as post-traumatic
8stress injury (PTSI) is less stigmatizing and is viewed as more
9honorable, and this designation can favorably influence those
10affected and encourage them to seek treatment without fear of
11retribution or shame; and
 
12    WHEREAS, All citizens suffering from post-traumatic stress
13injury deserve our compassion and consideration, and those
14brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces who have
15received these wounds in action against an enemy of the United
16States further deserve our special tribute and acknowledgment;
17and
 
18    WHEREAS, Post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) is an injury
19that is repairable, and timely treatment can diminish
20complications and prevent suicides among the injured;
21therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
2HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
3we declare June 27, 2020 as "Post-Traumatic Stress Injury
4Awareness Day" in the State of Illinois; and be it further
 
5    RESOLVED, That we declare June of 2020 as "Post-Traumatic
6Stress Injury Awareness Month" in the State of Illinois; and be
7it further
 
8    RESOLVED, That we urge the Department of Public Health and
9the Department of Veterans Affairs to continue working to
10educate victims of abuse, crime, and natural disasters and
11service members, veterans and their families, and the general
12public about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of
13post-traumatic stress injury; and be it further
 
14    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
15delivered to the Governor, the Director of Public Health, and
16the Director of Veterans Affairs.