LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim June 27, 2016, as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day in
the State of New York

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, All citizens possess the basic human right to the preserva-
tion of personal dignity; and
WHEREAS, The diagnosis now known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD) was first defined to commonly and more accurately understand and
treat veterans who had endured severe traumatic combat stress; and
WHEREAS, Combat operational stress has historically been viewed as a
mental illness caused by a pre-existing flaw of character and/or abili-
ty; the term Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) carries a stigma that
perpetuates this misconception; and
WHEREAS, Post-traumatic stress can occur after experiencing a severely
traumatic event to include sexual assault, child abuse, high-impact
collisions and crashes, natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and mili-
tary combat; and
WHEREAS, Post-traumatic stress is a very common injury to the brain
that is treatable and repairable; and
WHEREAS, Referring to the complications from post-traumatic stress as
a disorder perpetuates the stigma of and bias against mental illness,
and the stigma discourages those suffering from post-traumatic stress
from seeking proper and timely medical treatment; and
WHEREAS, Making the condition less stigmatizing and more honorable can
favorably influence those affected and encourage them to seek help with-
out fear of retribution or shame; and
WHEREAS, Proper and timely treatment can diminish suicide rates; and
WHEREAS, All citizens suffering from post-traumatic stress injury
deserve our compassion and consideration, those who have received these
wounds in action against an enemy of the United States further deserve
our tribute and acknowledgement; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim, Monday June 27, 2016
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, the
general public, about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of post-trau-
matic stress injury; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York, and Colonel Eric J. Hesse, (Retired), Director of the New York
State Division of Veterans' Affairs.