Congress Repeats What Already Failed on PTSD Awareness

PTSD Awareness efforts failed. It is simple to see that. So why is Congress just repeating everything that has not worked? Why are thousands of new groups going around the country to "raise awareness" when they are not even aware of basic facts? How long are you going to be fooled into thinking that the outcome will change when nothing else does?

The National Center for PTSD promotes awareness of PTSD and effective treatments throughout the year. Starting in 2010, Congress named June 27th PTSD Awareness Day (S. Res. 455). In 2014, the Senate designated the full month of June for National PTSD Awareness (S. Res. 481). Efforts are underway to continue this designation for the third consecutive year in 2016.

Yes, you just read the year 2010.  So how is it that they managed to just repeat the reason to have PTSD Awareness Month instead of making sure every veteran knew enough to get help?

This is from Congress about this year.  They should have just copied and pasted what they had back in 2010. The only difference is the numbers are higher and not in a good way.

S.Res.512 - A resolution designating the month of June 2016 as "National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month" and June 27, 2016, as "National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day".
Whereas the brave men and women of the Armed Forces of the United States (in this preamble referred to as the ``Armed Forces''), who proudly serve the United States, risk their lives to protect the freedom of the people of the United States and deserve the investment of every possible resource to ensure their lasting physical, mental, and emotional well- being;

Whereas more than 2,000,000 members of the Armed Forces have deployed overseas since the events of September 11, 2001, and have served in places such as Afghanistan and Iraq;

Whereas the Armed Forces have sustained a historically high operational tempo since September 11, 2001, with many members of the Armed Forces deploying overseas multiple times, placing those members at high risk of experiencing combat stress;

Whereas, when left untreated, exposure to traumatic combat stress can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (in this preamble referred to as ``PTSD''), sometimes referred to as post-traumatic stress injury;

Whereas men and women of the Armed Forces and veterans who served before September 11, 2001, remain at risk for PTSD and other mental health disorders;

Whereas the Secretary of Veterans Affairs reports that, in fiscal year 2015, more than 569,000 of the nearly 6,000,000 veterans who sought care at a medical facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs received treatment for PTSD;

Whereas many combat stress injuries remain unreported, undiagnosed, and untreated due to a lack of awareness about post-traumatic stress and the persistent stigma associated with mental health conditions;

Whereas exposure to military trauma can lead to PTSD;

Whereas PTSD significantly increases the risk of anxiety, depression, suicide, homelessness, and drug- and alcohol-related disorders and deaths, especially if left untreated;

Whereas public perceptions of PTSD or other mental health disorders create unique challenges for veterans seeking employment;

Whereas the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as the larger medical community, both private and public, have made significant advances in the identification, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of PTSD and the symptoms of PTSD, but many challenges remain; 

Our veterans deserved better. So did the families left behind after they had to bury one of them. So do the families falling apart praying someone will do something that will actually make a difference in their lives.