PRINTER'S NO. 1730
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
380
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY FABRIZIO, ROZZI, MILLARD, PICKETT, DONATUCCI,
KINSEY, BAKER, McNEILL, KIRKLAND, THOMAS, R. BROWN, BISHOP,
VEREB, WHEELAND, CALTAGIRONE, MATZIE, BENNINGHOFF, BIZZARRO,
EMRICK, SAINATO, DRISCOLL, SCHLOSSBERG, HEFFLEY, BOBACK,
DUSH, SONNEY, FREEMAN, WATSON, SCHLEGEL CULVER, YOUNGBLOOD,
LONGIETTI, SCHREIBER, MURT, COHEN, O'BRIEN, DAVIS,
DiGIROLAMO, ROSS, GIBBONS, PAYNE, GOODMAN, A. HARRIS,
MACKENZIE, BROWNLEE, MAHONEY, FARINA, READSHAW, DeLUCA,
HENNESSEY, HARKINS, C. PARKER, BARBIN, SABATINA, TOOHIL,
FARRY, FRANKEL, KORTZ, GINGRICH, D. COSTA, QUINN, JOZWIAK,
ELLIS, WARD, BRADFORD AND MARSICO, JUNE 8, 2015
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
JUNE 8, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of June 2015 as "Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD is a
psychiatric disorder that is often misunderstood and its
prevalence is frequently underestimated; and
WHEREAS, PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can develop after
exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which there is a
potential for or actual occurrence of grave physical harm; and
WHEREAS, Traumatic events that may trigger PTSD include
violent personal assaults, natural or human-caused disasters,
accidents and military combat; and
WHEREAS, PTSD affects nearly 7.7 million Americans, and
approximately 20% of veterans returning from Iraq or Afghanistan
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suffer from PTSD, and two-thirds do not seek treatment; and
WHEREAS, The brave men and women of the United States Armed
Forces, who proudly serve their country, risk their lives to
protect the freedom of the United States and deserve the
investment of every possible resource to ensure their lasting
physical, mental and emotional well-being; and
WHEREAS, More than 2 million service members have deployed
overseas as part of overseas contingency operations since the
events of September 11, 2001; and
WHEREAS, The military has sustained an operational tempo for
a period of time unprecedented in the history of the United
States, with many service members deploying multiple times to
combat zones, placing them at high risk for PTSD; and
WHEREAS, The United States Department of Veterans Affairs
reports that, since October 2001, more than 286,000 of the
approximately 900,000 veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom,
Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn who have used
Department of Veterans Affairs health care have been coded for
PTSD; and
WHEREAS, According to the United States Department of
Veterans Affairs, in fiscal year 2011, more than 475,000 of the
nearly 6 million veterans from all wars who sought care at a
Department of Veterans Affairs medical center received treatment
for PTSD; and
WHEREAS, The United States Department of Veterans Affairs
reports that of veterans who served in Operation Enduring
Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn who are
using Veterans Affairs health care, more than 486,000, or 54%,
have received a diagnosis for at least one mental health
disorder; and
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WHEREAS, Many cases of PTSD remain unreported, undiagnosed
and untreated due to a lack of awareness about PTSD and the
persistent stigma associated with mental health conditions; and
WHEREAS, Symptoms of PTSD vary from person to person and can
affect people differently; and
WHEREAS, Some common symptoms include upsetting memories,
anger, irritability, emotional numbness and nightmares; and
WHEREAS, PTSD significantly increases the risk of depression,
suicide and drug-and-alcohol-related disorders and deaths,
especially if left untreated; and
WHEREAS, Families of persons who have PTSD experience more
unhappiness, marital strife, anxiety and childhood and
adolescent behavioral problems than families that do not have to
cope with this disorder; and
WHEREAS, The United States Department of Defense and the
Department of Veterans Affairs have made significant advances in
the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of PTSD and the symptoms
of PTSD, but many challenges remain; and
WHEREAS, The National Center for Posttraumatic Stress
Disorder within the United States Department of Veterans Affairs
aims to advance the clinical care and social welfare of United
States veterans through research, education and training on PTSD
and stress-related disorders and provides educational resources
for veterans and also for health care providers, researchers and
the general public through its Internet website; and
WHEREAS, The National Center for Posttraumatic Stress
Disorder has designated June as "PTSD Awareness Month"; and
WHEREAS, In order to bring greater awareness to the issue of
PTSD, the Senate of the United States designated June 27 as
"National PTSD Awareness Day"; and
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WHEREAS, The designation of "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania will raise public awareness
about issues related to PTSD, reduce the stigma associated with
PTSD and help ensure that those suffering from this disorder
receive proper treatment; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate June
2015 as "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month" in
Pennsylvania and support the efforts of many organizations to
educate the public about the causes, symptoms and treatment of
PTSD.
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