SENATE RESOLUTION 16

(By Senators Takubo, Plymale, Stollings, Prezioso, Boso, Cline and Maroney)

[Introduced February 20, 2017]

Designating June as West Virginia Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month and June 27 as West Virginia Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day.

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; and, be it

Further Resolved, The Senate respectfully urges our Bureau for Public Health, Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety and the Department of Veterans’ Assistance 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 Post-Traumatic Stress Injury and designate June as West Virginia Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Governor.