A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION, Urging greater awareness and understanding of post-traumatic stress injury.

WHEREAS, all citizens of the United States possess the basic human right to the preservation of personal dignity; and

WHEREAS, all citizens of the United States deserve the investment of every possible resource to ensure their lasting physical, mental, and emotional well-being; and

WHEREAS, the diagnosis known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was initially formulated in 1980 by the American Psychiatric Association to assess and assist veterans who endured severe combat stress in Vietnam; and

WHEREAS, citizens exposed to extremely traumatic events other than combat, including rape, sexual assault, battery, torture, confinement, child abuse, car accidents, train wrecks, plane crashes, bombings, and natural disasters have also been diagnosed with PTSD; and

WHEREAS, it has been shown through electro-magnetic imaging that post-traumatic stress is an invisible wound that can lead to physical change to the brain and, as such, should be viewed as an injury rather than a disorder and stigmatized as a pre-existing flaw of character or ability; and

WHEREAS, post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) is a less stigmatizing label than PTSD for citizens who directly or indirectly experience a traumatic event or stressor that results in symptoms that persist and conform with criteria B through H in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual, and this less stigmatizing label may favorably influence and encourage these citizens to seek timely treatment without fear of retribution or shame and thereby alleviate pain and suffering and avert suicides; and

WHEREAS, all citizens suffering from PTSI deserve our compassion and consideration, especially the brave men and women who sustain this injury in service to our nation; and

WHEREAS, timely and appropriate treatment of PTSI can diminish complications and avert suicides:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the House of Representatives of the Ninety-Fifth Legislature of the State of South Dakota, the Senate concurring therein, that:

(1) The twenty-seventh day of June of each year be designated as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day; and

(2) The month of June be designated as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Departments of Health, Military, and Veterans Affairs are urged to continue working to educate victims of interpersonal violence, combat, life-threatening accidents or natural disasters and their families, as well as the general public, about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of PTSI; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution be transmitted to the Governor for appropriate proclamation and execution and to the secretary of state for appropriate publication and preservation.