Senate Resolution No. 1969

BY: Senator PARKER

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
June 2017, as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness
Month in the State of New York

WHEREAS, All citizens of the State of New York possess the basic
human right to the preservation of personal dignity; and

WHEREAS, All citizens of the State of New York deserve the
investment of every possible resource to ensure their lasting physical,
mental, and emotional well-being; and

WHEREAS, The brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces
who proudly serve this great Empire State risk their lives to protect
our freedom; and

WHEREAS, The diagnosis now known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD) was first defined by the American Psychiatric Association in 1980
to commonly and more accurately understand and treat veterans who had
endured severe traumatic combat stress; and

WHEREAS, Combat stress has historically been viewed as a mental
illness caused by a pre-existing flaw of character and/or ability; and
the word "disorder" carries a stigma that perpetuates this
misconception; and

WHEREAS, Post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) can occur after
experiencing a severely traumatic event to include, but not be exclusive
to: sexual assault, child abuse, high-impact collisions and crashes,
natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and military combat; and

WHEREAS, Post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) 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 this stigma can discourage the injured from seeking proper and
timely medical treatment; and

WHEREAS, Making post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) less
stigmatizing and more honorable can favorably influence those affected
and encourage them to seek help without fear of retribution or shame;
and

WHEREAS, Proper and timely treatment can diminish suicide rates; and

WHEREAS, All New Yorkers 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 recognition; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater awareness of this
serious health condition, and more must be done to increase activity at
the local, State and National levels; now, therefore, be it


RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 2017, as
Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month in the State of New York;
and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.