Res 0747-2015

By Council Members Ulrich, Cohen, Eugene, Gentile, Johnson, Koo, Richards, Wills, Rosenthal and Kallos Whereas, In 2010 and every year since, the United States Congress has designated June 27th as PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) Awareness Day; and Whereas, The National Center for PTSD has designated June as PTSD Awareness Month; Whereas, According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the purpose of PTSD Awareness Day is to raise public awareness of PTSD and effective treatments to help people affected by PTSD; and Whereas, According to studies by the Rand Institute, at least 20% of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffer from PTSD and/or depression; and Whereas, According to the Rand Institute, PTSD can have far-reaching and damaging consequences if left untreated and put those afflicted at higher risks for other psychological problems, homelessness and suicide; and Whereas, According to the Rand Institute, people afflicted with PTSD have higher rates of unhealthy behaviors that can impair relationships, disrupt marriages, aggravate the difficulties of parenting, and cause problems in children that may extend the consequences of combat trauma across generations; and Whereas, According to the Rand Institute, the symptoms of PTSD often do not appear for months or years after military deployment, thus many veterans go undiagnosed for long periods of time; and Whereas, According to the Rand Institute, 50% of those with PTSD do not seek treatment and only half of those get adequate treatment; and Whereas, According to the National Center for PTSD, women in the military are increasingly likely to develop PTSD because a growing number of them are being exposed to combat and are at higher risk of sexual assault than men; and Whereas, According to the National Center for PTSD, greater public awareness of PTSD will reduce social stigma and encourage many veterans and others to seek the treatment they need; and Whereas, Many other localities throughout the nation designate various days in June and the month itself for PTSD awareness, Whereas, According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, more than 200,000 veterans reside in New York City; and Whereas, The City Council is greatly concerned with the health of all New York Yorkers who suffer from PTSD, including veterans, therefore, be it Resolved, The Council of the City of New York recognizes this and every June as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month in New York City. KJR/ENB LS 4221 6/10/2015 5:33 PM