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SJR 27 - Enrolled - PDF
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