STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1700

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 102

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 102 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION DECLARING JUNE 27 OF EACH YEAR AS POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY AWARENESS DAY AND DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF JUNE OF EACH YEAR AS POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY AWARENESS MONTH IN HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to declare June 27 of each year as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day and designate the month of June of each year as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month in Hawaii.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that post-traumatic stress disorder was first recognized by the American Psychiatric Association in 1980 to more accurately understand and treat veterans who had endured severe operational combat stress. However, post-traumatic stress is not limited to veterans and can occur following any extreme traumatic event including interpersonal violence, life-threatening accidents, or natural disaster. Severe post-traumatic stress is a very common and treatable injury to the brain, and timely treatment can diminish complications and prevent suicides among those affected by it. However, this type of trauma has historically been cast as a mental illness rather than as an injury, which can discourage those affected from seeking proper and timely medical treatment. Your Committee further finds that de-stigmatizing this condition by emphasizing that it is an injury and not a disorder and raising awareness of the symptoms and treatability of post-traumatic stress injury may encourage more people to seek timely medical treatment.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 102 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

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ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair