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JOINT RESOLUTION DESIGNATING POST-TRAUMATIC

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STRESS INJURY AWARENESS DAY AND MONTH

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2018 GENERAL SESSION

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STATE OF UTAH

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Chief Sponsor: Peter C. Knudson

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House Sponsor: Paul Ray

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8     LONG TITLE
9     General Description:
10          This joint resolution of the Legislature designates June 27, 2018, as Utah
11     Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day and June 2018 as Utah Post-Traumatic
12     Stress Injury Awareness Month.
13     Highlighted Provisions:
14          This resolution:
15          ▸     designates June 27, 2018, as Utah Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day;
16          ▸     designates June 2018 as Utah Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month; and
17          ▸     urges the Department of Health and the Department of Veterans and Military
18     Affairs to continue working to educate victims of interpersonal violence, combat,
19     and life-threatening accidents or natural disasters, their families, and the citizens of
20     Utah regarding the causes, symptoms, and treatment of post-traumatic stress injury.
21     Special Clauses:
22          None
23     

24     Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
25          WHEREAS, all citizens of the United States possess the basic human right to preserve
26     personal dignity;
27          WHEREAS, all citizens of the United States deserve the investment of every possible

28     resource to ensure their lasting physical, mental, and emotional well-being;
29          WHEREAS, the diagnosis now known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was
30     first defined by the American Psychiatric Association in 1980 to commonly and more
31     accurately understand and treat veterans who had endured severe operational combat stress;
32          WHEREAS, combat stress injury has historically been unjustly portrayed as a mental
33     illness caused by a pre-existing flaw of character or ability;
34          WHEREAS, the word "disorder" carries a stigma that perpetuates this misconception;
35          WHEREAS, post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) may occur following exposure to
36     extremely traumatic events including interpersonal violence, combat, life-threatening accidents,
37     or natural disasters;
38          WHEREAS, PTSI is a very common injury to the brain that is treatable and repairable;
39          WHEREAS, referring to the complications from combat operational stress as a disorder
40     perpetuates the stigma of, and bias against, mental illness;
41          WHEREAS, this stigma can discourage the injured from seeking proper and timely
42     medical treatment;
43          WHEREAS, making PTSI less stigmatizing and more honorable can favorably
44     influence those affected and encourage them to seek treatment without fear of retribution or
45     shame;
46          WHEREAS, proper and timely treatment can diminish suicide rates among the injured;
47          WHEREAS, all citizens suffering from PTSI deserve our compassion and
48     consideration; and
49          WHEREAS, those brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces who have
50     received these wounds in action against an enemy of the United States further deserve our
51     special tribute and acknowledgment:
52          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
53     designates June 27, 2018, as Utah Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day.
54          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah designates June
55     2018 as Utah Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month.
56          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature urges the Department of Health and
57     the Department of Veterans and Military Affairs to continue working to educate victims of
58     interpersonal violence, combat, and life-threatening accidents or natural disasters, their

59     families, and the citizens of Utah regarding the causes, symptoms, and treatment of
60     post-traumatic stress Injury.
61          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Department
62     of Health and the Department of Veterans and Military Affairs.






Legislative Review Note
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel