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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The veterans of the armed forces of the United |
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States experience post-traumatic stress disorder and commit |
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suicide at rates far higher than the general population; and |
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WHEREAS, The men and women who bear arms in our defense |
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regularly face traumatic situations that are not necessarily unique |
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to military life but are certainly more prevalent, ranging from |
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violent and life-threatening experiences to sexual harassment and |
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assault; and |
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WHEREAS, Between 7 and 8 percent of the general population |
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experience PTSD at some point in their lives, but veterans are |
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afflicted at rates that range from 12 percent for those who took |
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part in the Gulf War to between 11 and 20 percent for veterans of |
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Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom; approximately 15 |
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percent of Vietnam veterans are currently diagnosed with PTSD, and |
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nearly a third of them have experienced the condition over the |
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course of their lifetimes; and |
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WHEREAS, The aftermath of trauma can manifest itself as |
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depression, outbursts of anger, and substance abuse, but the most |
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tragic consequence is suicide; from 2008 to 2016, more than 6,000 |
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veterans each year took their own lives; moreover, in 2016, the |
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suicide rate for veterans was 26.1 per 100,000 as opposed to 17.4 |
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for non-veteran adults, when adjusted for age and gender; and |
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WHEREAS, Suicide and other consequences of PTSD affect not |
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only the veterans themselves, but also their families, friends, and |
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communities; in an effort to address this urgent problem, the U.S. |
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Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, the |
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Department of Homeland Security, the National Action Alliance for |
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Suicide Prevention, and many veterans and private sector |
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organizations are working to expand treatment and prevention |
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services; these initiatives can be furthered by increasing public |
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awareness of the issue and by engaging the active support of a broad |
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spectrum of concerned citizens; and |
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WHEREAS, Americans owe those men and women who sacrificed so |
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much on our behalf an eternal debt of gratitude, and it is essential |
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that our veterans receive the assistance they need to enhance their |
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well-being and their ability to live long and fulfilling lives; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 86th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby designate June as Veteran Suicide and PTSD Awareness Month; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of Section |
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391.004(d), Government Code, this designation remain in effect |
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until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is finally |
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passed by the legislature. |