# What This Bill Actually Does

This is a symbolic resolution that designates June 2021 as "National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month" and June 27, 2021 as a specific awareness day. In practical terms, it doesn't create new laws or programs—it's essentially Congress saying "we officially recognize this issue and support efforts to address it." Think of it like a formal proclamation that raises the profile of post-traumatic stress (often called PTSD) and encourages the government to take it seriously.

The bill focuses on changing how we talk about and understand trauma-related mental health issues, particularly among military members and veterans. It emphasizes calling the condition a "stress injury" rather than a "disorder" because the word "disorder" carries stigma that discourages people from seeking help. The resolution points out that roughly 11 to 20 percent of veterans from recent wars like Iraq and Afghanistan experience PTSD, and many don't get treatment because they're embarrassed or don't understand what they're experiencing. By raising awareness, the bill aims to reduce that shame and encourage more people to seek treatment.

The resolution also acknowledges that post-traumatic stress affects far more than just combat veterans—it can result from car accidents, sexual assault, natural disasters, or other traumatic events, impacting about 8 million American adults each year. The bill supports the work of the Veterans Affairs Department, military leadership, and medical professionals in identifying, treating, and preventing these conditions. It recognizes that families of affected service members and veterans also suffer the consequences and deserve support. Ultimately, this resolution is about changing the national conversation to treat trauma-related mental health as a common, treatable injury rather than something shameful to hide.

Expressing support for the designation of the month of June 2021 as "National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month" and June 27, 2021, as "National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day".

Peters, Scott H.

This resolution supports the designations of National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month and National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day. The resolution supports (1) the education of members of the Armed Forces, veterans, their families, and the public about post-traumatic stress; and (2) efforts by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense to foster cultural change around the issue of post-traumatic stress. The resolution also encourages the leadership of the Armed Forces to support treatment of members of the Armed Forces who suffer from post-traumatic stress.