PRINTER'S NO. 4145
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
949
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY MURT, SONNEY, RYAN, KULIK, KAUFFMAN, READSHAW,
SCHMITT, LONGIETTI, McNEILL, COX, MERSKI, JAMES, THOMAS,
HOHENSTEIN, SCHLEGEL CULVER, ROZZI, DELLOSO, GALLOWAY, HILL-
EVANS, BURNS, BROWN AND MACKENZIE, JULY 14, 2020
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, JULY 14, 2020
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of September 2020 as "Military Service-
Related Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, The brave men and women of the United States Armed
Forces, who proudly serve the United States and risk their lives
to protect our freedom, deserve the investment of every possible
resource to ensure their lasting physical, mental and emotional
well-being; and
WHEREAS, The challenges of serving in combat do not stop for
many veterans when they return home; and
WHEREAS, A new challenge begins for many of our servicemen
and servicewomen, who may struggle in silence daily; and
WHEREAS, Beginning with the ravages of the Civil War, a war-
related syndrome has been identified and called various names,
including "shell shock" during World War I and "battle fatigue"
during World War II; and
WHEREAS, Since the Vietnam Conflict in the 1960s and 1970s,
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the syndrome has been known as post-traumatic stress disorder or
PTSD; and
WHEREAS, Post-traumatic stress disorder has historically been
viewed as a mental illness caused by a preexisting flaw in the
individual's brain or character, and the term carries a stigma
that perpetuates this misconception; and
WHEREAS, Post-traumatic stress injury can occur as a result
of trauma an individual has experienced such as the stress of
combat, rape, sexual assault, battery, torture, confinement,
child abuse, car accidents, train wrecks, plane crashes,
bombings or natural disasters; and
WHEREAS, Post-traumatic stress is a very common injury to the
brain that is treatable and repairable; and
WHEREAS, Referring to post-traumatic stress injury as a
disorder perpetuates the stigma of and bias against mental
illness; and
WHEREAS, This stigma discourages those suffering from post-
traumatic stress from seeking proper and timely medical
treatment; and
WHEREAS, Eliminating this stigma can favorably influence
those affected and encourage them to seek help without fear of
retribution or shame; and
WHEREAS, Veterans currently returning from service in
Afghanistan and Iraq are experiencing a high incidence of post-
traumatic stress injury; and
WHEREAS, A study published in 2010 in the American Journal of
Public Health revealed that more than one-third of soldiers
returning from Afghanistan and Iraq are diagnosed with a mental
health disorder; and
WHEREAS, Of these soldiers, nearly 22% were diagnosed with
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post-traumatic stress injury; and
WHEREAS, Caused by the horrors experienced during war, post-
traumatic stress injury has an insidious effect on the health of
individuals; and
WHEREAS, Post-traumatic stress injury causes emotional,
social, physical, spiritual and communication challenges for
both the veterans suffering from the disorder and their loved
ones; and
WHEREAS, Individuals with post-traumatic stress injury have
difficulty sleeping and experience all of the tangential mental
and physical effects of sleep deprivation, feel more irritable
and are prone to unexpected or inexplicable outbursts of anger,
have difficulty concentrating, expect the worst, feel that
danger is imminent and are easily startled; and
WHEREAS, Families of individuals who have post-traumatic
stress injury experience more unhappiness, marital strife,
anxiety and childhood and adolescent behavioral problems; and
WHEREAS, Less than 40% of veterans suffering from post-
traumatic stress injury seek help; and
WHEREAS, The National Center for Posttraumatic Stress
Disorder within the Department of Veterans Affairs aims to
advance the clinical care and social welfare of veterans through
research, education and training on post-traumatic stress injury
and stress-related illnesses and provides educational resources
for veterans and health care providers, researchers and the
general public through its Internet website; and
WHEREAS, It is fitting to reflect on this serious injury that
affects many of our veterans and their families so that we may
renew and increase our awareness of post-traumatic stress
injury; therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
month of September 2020 as "Military Service-Related Post-
Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commend the
Adjutant General and the Department of Military and Veterans
Affairs for working to educate service members, veterans,
families of servicemembers and veterans, victims of abuse, crime
and natural disaster and the general public about the causes,
symptoms and treatment of post-traumatic stress injury.
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