Declare PTSI Awareness Month

Senate Resolution No. 1969 BY: Senator PARKER MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 2017, as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month in the State of New York WHEREAS, All citizens of the State of New York possess the basic human right to the preservation of personal dignity; and WHEREAS, All citizens of the State of New York 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 this great Empire State risk their lives to protect our freedom; and WHEREAS, The diagnosis now known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) 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 (PTSI) 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 (PTSI) 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 (PTSI) 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 New Yorkers 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 recognition; and WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater awareness of this serious health condition, and more must be done to increase activity at the local, State and National levels; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 2017, as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York.