IN HCR0047

Indiana General Assembly agrees with individuals and organizations urging that the diagnostic label of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder be changed to Post-Traumatic Stress Injury.

Post-traumatic stress affects approximately 7.7 million Americans and can result from combat, rape, sexual assault, torture, child abuse, car accidents, natural disasters, and other traumatic events.

The term "PTSD" carries stigma that discourages affected individuals from seeking medical treatment, perpetuating misconceptions that the condition is untreatable and incurable.

Reframing the diagnosis as an "injury" rather than a "disorder" is intended to reduce stigma and increase voluntary treatment-seeking among service members, veterans, first responders, abuse victims, and their families.

Assembly urges Governor Michael Pence to designate June 27, 2015 as "Indiana Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day" and directs transmission of the resolution to the Governor.