HR0829 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0829 LRB101 21088 ECR 71490 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

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, 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" has carried 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, It has been shown though 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 that can occur following exposure to extremely traumatic events, such as 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 is 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 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 (PTSI) is an injury that is repairable, and timely treatment can diminish complications and prevent suicides among the injured; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare June 27, 2020 as "Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day" in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we declare June of 2020 as "Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month" in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the Department of Public Health and the Department of Veterans Affairs to continue working to educate victims of abuse, crime, and natural disasters and service members, veterans and their families, and the general public about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of post-traumatic stress injury; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the Governor, the Director of Public Health, and the Director of Veterans Affairs.