III 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 215 

Designating the month of June 2015 as ‘‘National Post-Traumatic Stress 

Disorder Awareness Month’’ and June 27, 2015, as ‘‘National PostTraumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 25, 2015 

Ms. HEITKAMP (for herself, Mr. HELLER, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. INHOFE, 

Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. TILLIS, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. MORAN, Ms. STABENOW, 

Mr. THUNE, Mr. HOEVEN, Mr. GRASSLEY, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. BOOKER, 

Mr. BROWN, Mr. WARNER, Mr. DONNELLY, Mr. CRAPO, Mr. FRANKEN, 

Mr. ROBERTS, Mr. TESTER, Ms. HIRONO, and Ms. COLLINS) submitted 

the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating the month of June 2015 as ‘‘National PostTraumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month’’ and June 

27, 2015, as ‘‘National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder 

Awareness Day’’. 

Whereas the brave men and women of the Armed Forces of 

the United States, who proudly serve the United States, 

risk their lives to protect the freedom of the people 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 members of the Armed Forces 

have deployed overseas since the events of September 11, 


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•SRES 215 ATS 

2001, and have served in places such as Afghanistan and 

Iraq; 

Whereas the Armed Forces of the United States have sustained a historically high operational tempo since September 11, 2001, with many members of the Armed 

Forces deploying overseas multiple times, placing those 

members at high risk of post-traumatic stress disorder 

(referred to in this preamble as ‘‘PTSD’’); 

Whereas men and women of the Armed Forces and veterans 

who served before September 11, 2001, remain at risk 

for PTSD and other mental health disorders; 

Whereas the Secretary of Veterans Affairs reports that— 

(1) since October 2001, more than 390,000 of the 

approximately 1,160,000 veterans of Operation Enduring 

Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New 

Dawn who have received health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs have been diagnosed with 

PTSD; 

(2) in fiscal year 2014, more than 531,000 of the 

nearly 6,000,000 veterans who sought care at a medical 

facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs received 

treatment for PTSD; and 

(3) of veterans who served in Operation Enduring 

Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New 

Dawn who are receiving health care from the Department 

of Veterans Affairs, more than 615,000 have received a 

diagnosis for at least 1 mental health disorder; 

Whereas many cases of PTSD remain unreported, 

undiagnosed, and untreated due to a lack of awareness 

about PTSD and the persistent stigma associated with 

mental health conditions; 


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•SRES 215 ATS 

Whereas exposure to military trauma can lead to PTSD; 

Whereas PTSD significantly increases the risk of anxiety, depression, suicide, homelessness, and drug- and alcohol-related disorders and deaths, especially if left untreated; 

Whereas public perceptions of PTSD or other mental health 

disorders create unique challenges for veterans seeking 

employment; 

Whereas the Department of Defense and the Department of 

Veterans Affairs—as well as the larger medical community, both private and public—have made significant advances in the identification, prevention, diagnosis, and 

treatment of PTSD and the symptoms of PTSD, but 

many challenges remain; 

Whereas increased understanding of PTSD can help diminish 

the stigma attached to this mental health issue, and additional efforts are needed to find further ways to reduce 

this stigma—including an examination of how PTSD is 

discussed in the United States and a recognition that 

PTSD is a common injury that is treatable and repairable; 

Whereas PTSD can result from any number of stressors 

other than combat, including rape, sexual assault, battery, torture, confinement, child abuse, car accidents, 

train wrecks, plane crashes, bombings, or natural disaster, and affects approximately 8,000,000 adults in the 

United States annually; and 

Whereas the designation of a National Post-Traumatic Stress 

Disorder Awareness Month and a National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Day will raise public awareness 

about issues related to PTSD, reduce the stigma associated with PTSD, and help ensure that those suffering 


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•SRES 215 ATS 

from the invisible wounds of war receive proper treatment: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates June 2015 as ‘‘National Post3 Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month’’ and 

4 June 27, 2015 as ‘‘National Post-Traumatic Stress 

5 Disorder Awareness Day’’; 

6 (2) supports the efforts of the Secretary of Vet7 erans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense—as well 

8 as the entire medical community—to educate mem9 bers of the Armed Forces, veterans, the families of 

10 members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and the 

11 public about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of 

12 PTSD; 

13 (3) encourages commanders of the Armed 

14 Forces to support appropriate treatment of men and 

15 women of the Armed Forces who are diagnosed with 

16 PTSD; and 

17 (4) respectfully requests that the Secretary of 

18 the Senate transmit a copy of this resolution to the 

19 Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of 

20 Defense. 

Æ 


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