SJR 27

SJR27 189841-2 By Senator Dial RFD: Rules First Read: 23-JAN-18 SJR27 SJR27 ENROLLED, SJR27, RECOGNIZING POST TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY AWARENESS. 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 SJR27 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 (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 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, SJR27 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. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we direct that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Department of Public Health, and the Department of Veterans Affairs as an expression of the sentiment of the Alabama Legislature. SJR27 President and Presiding Officer of the Senate Speaker of the House of Representatives SJR27 Senate 22-FEB-18 I hereby certify that the within Senate Joint Resolution originated in and was adopted by the Senate. Patrick Harris, Secretary. House of Representatives Adopted: 01-MAR-18 By: Senator Dial