Bill Text: NY K00541 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 2019, as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month, and June 27, 2019
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2019-06-12 - adopted [K00541 Detail]
Download: New_York-2019-K00541-Introduced.html
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.