Assembly Resolution No. 541

BY: M. of A. DenDekker

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
June 2019, as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness
Month, and June 27, 2019, as Post-Traumatic Stress
Injury Awareness Day in the State of New York

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 more accurately assess and assist veterans who had
endured severe combat stress in Vietnam; and

WHEREAS, Combat stress is an invisible wound which has historically
been unjustly portrayed as a mental illness caused by a preexisting flaw
of character or ability, and that the word "disorder" carries a stigma
which perpetuates this misconception; and

WHEREAS, It has been shown though electro-magnetic imaging that
these invisible wounds can cause physical changes to the brain which
more accurately describe an injury than a disorder; and

WHEREAS, Referring to invisible wounds as a disorder can discourage
the injured from seeking proper and timely medical treatment; and

WHEREAS, Referring to invisible wounds as post-traumatic stress
injury (PTSI) is less stigmatizing and viewed as more honorable, and
this designation can favorably influence those affected and encourage
them to seek treatment without fear of retribution or shame; and

WHEREAS, Post-traumatic stress injury can occur following exposure
to extremely traumatic events other than combat such as, but not
exclusive to: interpersonal violence, life-threatening accidents and
natural disasters; and

WHEREAS, Post-traumatic stress injury satisfying criteria A through
H of the diagnosis for post-traumatic stress disorder in the Diagnostic
Statistical Manual deserves disability compensation equal to that
allowed for PTSD under the law; and

WHEREAS, All citizens suffering from post-traumatic stress injury
deserve our compassion and consideration; those brave men and women of
the United States Armed Forces who have received these wounds in action
against an enemy of the United States further deserve our clear and
obvious recognition; and

WHEREAS, Timely and appropriate treatment of post-traumatic stress
injury can diminish complications and avert suicides; now, therefore, be
it


RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 2019, as
Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month and June 27, 2019, as
Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day in the State of New York; and
be it further

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause further to respectfully
urge the Department of Health, the Department of Mental Health, the
Division of Military and Naval Affairs and the Division of Veterans'
Affairs to continue to work to educate the victims of abuse, crime and
natural disasters, service members, veterans and their families, and the
general public, about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of
post-traumatic stress injury; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York; and Thomas Mahany, Executive Director, Honor for ALL.