Honor for ALL Initiates Post-traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day in 2014

Honor for ALL is responsible for initiating the first governmental resolution of its kind designating Post-traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day

Adopted concurrently by the House and Senate of the State of Michigan, June 23, 2014:

June 27, 2014, is designated ‘‘Michigan Post-traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day’’

Whereas the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces, who proudly serve the United States, risk their lives to protect the freedom of the United States and deserve the investment of every possible resource to ensure their lasting physical, mental, and emotional well-being;

Whereas more than 2,000,000 United States service members have deployed as part of overseas contingency operations since the events of September 11, 2001;

Whereas the military has sustained an operational tempo for a period of time unprecedented in the history of the United States, with many service members deploying multiple times to combat zones, placing them at high risk of post-traumatic stress injury (referred to in this preamble as “PTSI”);

Whereas it is expected that ten thousand veterans will return to the State of Michigan every year for the next three to five years after spending a significant amount of time in combat environments, exposing thousands of soldiers to traumatic life threatening events;

Whereas the Department of Veterans Affairs reports that in fiscal year 2012, more than 500,000 veterans from all wars sought care at a Department of Veterans Affairs medical center received treatment for PTSI;

Whereas PTSI significantly increases the risk of depression, suicide, and drug and alcohol related disorders and deaths;

Whereas the Department of Defense and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs have made significant advances in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of PTSI and the symptoms of PTSI, many challenges remain; and

Whereas the establishment of a Michigan Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day will raise public awareness about issues related to PTSI:

Now, therefore, be it Resolved, that the (Senate/House) —

(1) designates June 27, 2014, as ‘‘Michigan Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day’’;

2) urges the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency and The Adjutant General to continue working to educate servicemembers, veterans, the families of servicemembers and veterans, and the public about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of post-traumatic stress injury; and

(3) respectfully requests that the –(Sec of the Senate/Clerk of the House)– transmit a copy of this resolution to the governor of the State of Michigan.