This resolution expresses support for designating June 2026 as National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month and June 27, 2026, as National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day to raise awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding PTSD, especially among veterans.
Scott Peters
Representative
CA-50
This resolution expresses support for designating June 2026 as "National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month" and June 27, 2026, as "National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day." The goal is to raise public understanding and reduce the stigma surrounding post-traumatic stress, particularly among veterans. By promoting awareness, the bill seeks to encourage timely treatment for those suffering from this often-untreated condition.
New Resolution Designates June 2026 for Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness: Focus on Veteran Health and Brain Science
This resolution formally supports designating June 2026 as National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month, with a specific focus on June 27, 2026, as National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day. It isn't just a symbolic gesture; the text explicitly draws on Department of Veterans Affairs data showing that between 11% and 20% of veterans from recent operations in Iraq and Afghanistan experience chronic post-traumatic stress (PTS). By putting these dates on the calendar, the resolution aims to bridge the gap between medical science—which now uses electro-magnetic imaging to prove that traumatic stress physically alters the brain—and the social stigma that often prevents people from seeking help.
More Than Just a Calendar Date
The resolution pushes for a significant cultural shift within the military and the Department of Veterans Affairs. It specifically calls for the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ramp up educational outreach for service members and their families. For a veteran working a 9-to-5 or a spouse managing a household, this means the bill is targeting the "invisible wounds" that often lead to tangible crises like homelessness, substance abuse, and unemployment. By citing that 30% of Vietnam-era veterans have dealt with PTS in their lifetimes, the resolution acknowledges that these issues don't just disappear with time; they require active, long-term intervention and a leadership culture that encourages treatment rather than penalizing it.
Supporting the Home Front
One of the most grounded aspects of this resolution is its direct recognition of military families. It acknowledges that when a service member returns with PTS, the impact ripples out to spouses and children, often straining the family unit. The resolution frames PTS as a "reparable injury," a key distinction that moves the conversation away from permanent disability toward the possibility of recovery. For the roughly 3.5 million members of the Armed Forces who have deployed since 2001, this measure seeks to ensure that the transition back to civilian life includes the mental health resources necessary to sustain a career and a family.