H.R. No. 2647 R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, The brave men and women of our nation's armed forces regularly risk their lives in defense of our freedoms, and as a result, many suffer from the serious effects of post-traumatic stress; and WHEREAS, In 1980, the American Psychiatric Association crafted the term "post-traumatic stress disorder" to diagnose the effects of traumatic stress suffered by combat veterans, first responders, and victims of crime, abuse, or natural disasters; and WHEREAS, Unfortunately, the term PTSD may carry a negative connotation for some, discouraging them from seeking treatment due to the perception that the word "disorder" indicates weakness or mental illness in the individual who suffers from post-traumatic stress; and WHEREAS, Research utilizing electromagnetic imaging has demonstrated that combat and other traumatic stress can cause actual physical changes in the brain, leading to psychological symptoms and changes in behavior; as a result, a movement has arisen that hopes to change the official diagnosis, in certain cases, from PTSD to "post-traumatic stress injury," or PTSI; and WHEREAS, A leader in these advocacy efforts is the veterans organization Honor for All, which is dedicated to eliminating the stigma attached to post-traumatic stress, to preserving the dignity of the injured, and to helping them avert impulsive or dangerous behavior which might lead to suicide; and WHEREAS, Under the motto "Visible Honor for Invisible Wounds," the organization is engaged in a national effort to introduce the term "injury" into the vernacular when discussing post-traumatic stress that arises as a result of changes in the brain; this simple change can help encourage individuals to seek timely treatment without fear of retribution or shame; and WHEREAS, The nation's military veterans who have suffered the hidden wounds of post-traumatic stress injury while serving our nation are truly entitled to every possible resource to ensure their lasting physical, mental, and emotional well-being; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That June 27, 2017, be recognized as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day and that the month of June be recognized as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month in the State of Texas. Gutierrez ______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 2647 was adopted by the House on May 28, 2017, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House