•HRES 391 IH 
2001, and have served in places such as Afghanistan and 
Iraq; 
Whereas the Armed Forces of the United States have sus-
tained a historically high operational tempo since Sep-
tember 11, 2001, with many members of the Armed 
Forces deploying overseas multiple times, placing those 
members at high risk of post-traumatic stress injury/inju-
ries (referred to in this preamble as ‘‘PTSI’’); 
Whereas men and women of the Armed Forces and veterans 
who served before September 11, 2001, remain at risk 
for PTSI and other mental health injuries; 
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 Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs have been diagnosed with PTSI; 
(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 PTSI; 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 injury; 
Whereas 
many 
cases 
of 
PTSI 
remain 
unreported, 
undiagnosed, and untreated due to a lack of awareness 
about PTSI and the persistent stigma associated with 
mental health conditions; 
Whereas exposure to military trauma can lead to PTSI; 
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Whereas PTSI significantly increases the risk of anxiety, de-
pression, suicide, homelessness, and drug- and alcohol-re-
lated injuries and deaths, especially if left untreated; 
Whereas public perceptions of PTSI or other mental health 
injuries create unique challenges for veterans seeking em-
ployment; 
Whereas the Department of Defense and the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, as well as the larger medical commu-
nity, both private and public, have made significant ad-
vances in the identification, prevention, diagnosis, and 
treatment of PTSI and the symptoms of PTSI, but many 
challenges remain; 
Whereas increased understanding of PTSI can help diminish 
the stigma attached to this mental health issue, and addi-
tional efforts are needed to find further ways to reduce 
this stigma—including an examination of how PTSI is 
discussed in the United States and a recognition that 
PTSI is a common injury that is treatable and repair-
able; 
Whereas the diagnosis now known as Post-Traumatic Stress 
Disorder was first defined by the American Psychiatric 
Association in 1980 to commonly and more accurately 
understand and treat veterans who had endured severe 
traumatic combat stress; 
Whereas combat stress has previously been viewed as a men-
tal illness caused by a pre-existing flaw of character and/ 
or ability; and the word ‘‘disorder’’ carries a stigma that 
perpetuates this misconception; 
Whereas making PTSI less stigmatizing and more honorable 
can favorably influence those affected and encourage 
them to seek help without fear of retribution or shame; 
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Whereas PTSI can result from any number of stressors other 
than combat, including rape, sexual assault, battery, tor-
ture, 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 
Injury Awareness Month and a National Post-Traumatic 
Stress Injury Day will raise public awareness about 
issues related to PTSI, reduce the stigma associated with 
PTSI, and help ensure that those suffering from the in-
visible wounds of war receive proper treatment: Now, 
therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the designation of ‘‘National Post- 
Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month’’ and 
‘‘National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness 
Day’’; 
(2) supports the efforts of the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense, as well 
as the entire medical community, to educate mem-
bers of the Armed Forces, veterans, the families of 
members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and the 
public about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of 
post-traumatic stress injury/injuries (PTSI); 
(3) encourages commanders of the Armed 
Forces to support appropriate treatment of men and 
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women of the Armed Forces who are diagnosed with 
PTSI; and 
(4) respectfully requests that the Clerk of the 
House of Representatives transmit a copy of this 
resolution to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and 
the Secretary of Defense. 
Æ 
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