Posted: | April 11, 2023 11:47 AM |
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From: | Senator Christine M. Tartaglione |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | Trauma Awareness |
In the near future, I will be introducing a resolution designating May 2023 as “Trauma Awareness Month” and May 25th, 2023 as “Trauma Awareness Day” in Pennsylvania. Trauma is the response a person has to a deeply disturbing or stressful event that impacts them mentally and/or physically and affects their ability to recover from such events. People can experience trauma in all types of settings and situations and what may traumatize one person may not necessarily traumatize someone else. There are many steps we can take as individuals and organizations to increase awareness of trauma. Being trauma-informed on the personal level recognizes the presence of trauma and the role that it plays throughout someone’s life. On an organizational level, being trauma-informed changes organizational culture to emphasize respecting and responding to the effects of trauma at all levels in a person’s life, including experiences or trauma that affects their identity, relationships with others, and world view. The Office of Advocacy and Reform, along with HEAL PA (a coalition of about 200 trauma experts across the Commonwealth), has led the development of a national trauma and mental health awareness campaign called #WeHealUS. In coordination with the national movement #WeHealUS, the state of Pennsylvania stands together as we continue down the path to Heal PA. By designating May as “Trauma Awareness Month” and May 25th as “Trauma Awareness Day” in Pennsylvania, I call on all individuals and leaders in Pennsylvania to realize that trauma exists and has widespread effects, recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma, and respond proactively and resist re-traumatization to allow for healing to begin. Please join me in supporting this important resolution. |
Introduced as SR102