Bill Text: IL HR0136 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Declares June 27, 2021 as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day. Declares June 2021 as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month. Urges the Departments of Public Health, Military Affairs, and Veterans Affairs 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 post-traumatic stress injury.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 23-5)

Status: (Passed) 2021-04-28 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Adam Niemerg [HR0136 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2021-HR0136-Introduced.html

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HR0136 LRB102 16948 MST 22365 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
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 distress has historically been
unjustly portrayed as a mental illness caused by a preexisting
flaw of character or ability, and association with the word
"disorder" generates a stigma that perpetuates this
misconception; and

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WHEREAS, It has been shown though electro-magnetic imaging
that severe post-traumatic stress causes physical changes
within the brain that are more accurately described as an
injury rather than a disorder; and
WHEREAS, Referring to post-traumatic stress as a disorder
can disparage the injured and discourage them from seeking
timely care for their behavioral health needs; and
WHEREAS, Post-traumatic stress injury exhibiting
compliance with criteria B through H of §309.81 in the
Diagnostic Statistical Manual deserves equal compensation
strictly matching that presently allowed under the law for
post-traumatic stress disorder; and
WHEREAS, All citizens suffering from post-traumatic stress
injury deserve our compassion and consideration; the brave men
and women who received these wounds while risking their lives
to protect our freedom, health, and welfare deserve special
recognition for their gallantry, commitment, devotion, and
sacrifice; and
WHEREAS, Timely access to appropriate treatment of
post-traumatic stress injury can diminish complications and
prevent suicide; therefore, be it

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RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we declare June 27, 2021 as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury
Awareness Day in the State of Illinois; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we declare June 2021 as Post-Traumatic
Stress Injury Awareness Month; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we urge the Departments of Public Health,
Military Affairs, and Veterans Affairs 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 post-traumatic stress injury; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
delivered to the Governor, and we encourage all citizens and
residents to join in this worthy observance.