Posted: | December 4, 2020 01:05 PM |
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From: | Representative Christina D. Sappey |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness in June 2021 |
In the past, we have referred to post-traumatic stress as a disorder. Labeling this serious trauma as a disorder has negative connotations and imparts the sufferer with a stigma that can be hard to lose. And now, with the many first responders and health care workers suffering during the COVID-19 pandemic, we need to help them get the care they need. Re-labelling post-traumatic stress as an injury rather than a disorder drops these connotations and identifies these injuries as treatable, similar to any other service-related injury. This could lead to more discussion about the diagnosis and treatment of these injuries, and encourage more health care workers, emergency services personnel, service members, veterans, and others who may suffer from this condition to seek help and obtain the care they need. Proclaiming June 2021 as “Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month” and June 27, 2021 as “Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day” in Pennsylvania will help remove the stigma attached to post-traumatic stress and promote resources available to sufferers of serious trauma Please, it is time to help those who continually put their lives on the line to help us every day. |