HLS 20RS-378 ORIGINAL
2020 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 49
BY REPRESENTATIVE BAGLEY
SPECIAL DAY/WEEK/MONTH: Designates June 2020 as Post-traumatic Stress Injury
Awareness Month and June 27, 2020, as Post-traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day
in Louisiana
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To recognize June 2020 as Post-traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month and to recognize
3 Saturday, June 27, 2020, as Post-traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day in
4 Louisiana.
5 WHEREAS, all people have a right to the preservation of their personal dignity; and
6 WHEREAS, all citizens of the United States deserve the investment of resources to
7ensure their lasting physical, mental, and emotional well-being; and
8 WHEREAS, the diagnosis known as post-traumatic stress disorder was first defined
9by the American Psychiatric Association in 1980 in order to more accurately understand and
10treat veterans who had endured severe, traumatic combat stress; and
11 WHEREAS, combat stress has historically been viewed incorrectly as a mental
12illness caused by a pre-existing flaw of character or ability, and the word disorder carries a
13stigma that perpetuates this misconception; and
14 WHEREAS, referring to the complications from post-traumatic stress as a disorder
15perpetuates the stigma of and bias against mental illness, and this stigma can discourage the
16injured from seeking proper and timely medical treatment; and
17 WHEREAS, through the use of electro-magnetic imaging, the medical field has
18demonstrated that the condition of post-traumatic stress is more accurately described as an
19injury; and
Page 1 of 2 HLS 20RS-378 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 49
1 WHEREAS, post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) is a common injury to the brain that
2is treatable and repairable; and
3 WHEREAS, PTSI can occur as a result of severely traumatic events including,
4without limitation, interpersonal violence, combat, life-threatening accidents, and natural
5disasters; and
6 WHEREAS, destigmatizing PTSI and honoring the bravery of persons recovering
7from this injury can favorably influence those affected and encourage them to seek help
8without fear of retribution or shame; and
9 WHEREAS, all citizens suffering from PTSI deserve our compassion and
10consideration, and those who have received their wounds in action against an enemy of the
11United States further deserve our tribute and recognition; and
12 WHEREAS, proper and timely treatment can improve health outcomes and diminish
13rates of suicide among people with PTSI.
14 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
15recognize the month of June 2020 as Post-traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month and
16does hereby recognize Saturday, June 27, 2020, as Post-traumatic Stress Injury Awareness
17Day in Louisiana.
18 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislature does hereby urge the Louisiana
19Department of Health and the Department of Veterans Affairs to increase efforts to educate
20survivors of interpersonal violence, combat, life-threatening accidents, and natural disasters,
21veterans and their families, and the general public about the causes, symptoms, and
22treatments of post-traumatic stress injury.
23 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the
24governor of Louisiana and the secretary of state.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HCR 49 Original 2020 Regular Session Bagley
Recognizes June 2020 as Post-traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month and to recognize
June 27, 2020, as Post-traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day in La.
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