Bill Text: HI SCR255 | 2021 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii Senate Concurrent Resolution 255 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Requesting That June 27 Of Each Year Be Recognized As Post-traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day And Designating The Month Of June Of Each Year As Post-traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month In Hawaii.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2021-04-01 - Referred to HHH, JHA, referral sheet 32 [SCR255 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2021-SCR255-Introduced.html

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	255
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THAT JUNE 27 OF EACH YEAR BE RECOGNIZED AS POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY AWARENESS DAY AND DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF JUNE OF EACH YEAR AS POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY AWARENESS MONTH IN HAWAII.

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

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

WHEREAS, post-traumatic stress can result from any number of stressors, including combat, interpersonal violence, severe impact collisions, natural disaster, and exposure to the suffering of others; and

WHEREAS, the diagnosis known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was initially formulated in 1980 by the American Psychiatric Association to commonly describe and categorize the psychological aftermath of severe traumatic distress; and

WHEREAS, post-traumatic stress has historically been groundlessly mischaracterized as a mental illness caused by a preexisting flaw of character or ability, and the term "disorder" carries a stigma that perpetuates this misconception; and

WHEREAS, it has been shown though electro-magnetic imaging that severe post-traumatic stress causes physical changes in the brain that are more accurately described as an injury than a disorder; and

WHEREAS, referring to post-traumatic stress as a disorder can disparage and discourage those injured from seeking timely care for their behavioral health needs; and

WHEREAS, post-traumatic stress injury that exhibits compliance with criteria B through H of section 309.81 of the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders deserves equal compensation strictly matching that presently allowed for post-traumatic stress disorder; and

WHEREAS, all citizens suffering from post-traumatic stress injury deserve compassion and consideration, and the brave men and women who received these wounds while risking their lives to protect our freedom, health, and welfare deserve special recognition of their gallantry, commitment, devotion, and sacrifice; and

WHEREAS, timely access to appropriate treatment of post-traumatic stress injury can diminish complications and prevent suicide; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2021, the House of Representatives concurring, that the twenty-seventh day of June of each year should be designated as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day and observed as a day of recognition and appreciation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the month of June of each year shall be designated as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month in Hawaii; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health and the United States Department of Veteran Affairs are urged to continue working to educate victims of interpersonal violence, combat, life-threatening accidents, or natural disasters; their families; and the general public, about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of post-traumatic stress injury; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the United States Secretary of State and Secretary of Veteran Affairs; Governor; Director of Health; Director of the State Office of Veterans Services; and Executive Director of Honor For All.