HB 100-POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY AWARENESS DAY  3:20:55 PM CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 100, "An Act establishing June 27 of each year as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day." 3:21:55 PM REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS TUCK, Alaska State Legislature, explained that the term "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder" had been changed to "Post-Traumatic Stress Injury." He paraphrased from the Sponsor Statement [Included in members' packets], which read: Post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) can develop following any event that makes you fear for your safety, especially if the event feels unpredictable and uncontrollable. PTSI can affect people who personally experience the threatening event, those who witness the event, or those who pick up the pieces afterwards, such as emergency workers. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event. It is estimated that almost 260 million people worldwide suffer from PTSI. In the U.S., about 3.5% of adults are diagnosed with PTSI annually. The impact of traumatic events on children is often more far reaching than trauma on adults, not only because the child has fewer emotional and intellectual resources to cope, but also because the child's development is adversely affected. According to one study, more than 60% of children ages 0-17 experienced or witnesses at least one traumatic event. Between 2000 and 2014, approximately 139,000 active-duty service members were diagnosed with new onset of post-traumatic stress within the Military Health System (MHS). Of these, roughly 112,000 service members were diagnosed following a deployment of 30 days or more to an overseas contingency operation. The numbers presented reflect only those service members identified by the MHS. As such, they may underestimate the true scope of the problem since they do not reflect those service members who choose not to seek assistance because of concerns around stigma and other barriers that may discourage them from seeking help. Referring to a post-traumatic stress injury as a disorder perpetuates the stigma which in turn discourages people seeking proper medical treatment. Raising awareness of the condition and eliminating the stigma may encourage people affected to seek help voluntarily and allow for timely treatment that may alleviate PTSI symptoms and even prevent suicide. The United States Senate, United State House of Representatives and 27 states have united by bringing national awareness to individuals who are suffering with PTSI. House Bill 100 will establish June 27 as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day in Alaska, providing an opportunity each year to raise awareness and conduct outreach. 3:24:54 PM KENDRA KLOSTER, Staff, Representative Chris Tuck, Alaska State Legislature, explained the proposed bill, which established June 27 of each year as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI) Awareness Day. She reiterated that a resolution had been passed in 2016, during the previous legislative session, to designate June 27, 2016, as a day of awareness. She relayed that the date, June 27, had been inspired by the birthday of National Guard Staff Sergeant Joe Beale, who suffered from PTSI and took his own life on April 26, 2007. 3:26:49 PM KENT HALL, Vice President, Honor For All, spoke about post- traumatic stress injury, and offered his personal story of PTSI. He reported that although he left Vietnam in 1969, "unfortunately, Vietnam never left me." He shared that he still had issues, and attended group therapy with other veterans. He reported that Lansing, Michigan had four such groups of 10 or more veterans. He credited the founders of "Honor For All" as working hard to create awareness for this by creating the first PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Awareness Day in Washington, DC in 2011, and that Michigan became the first state to pass a resolution for June 27 to be recognized as Post- Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI) Awareness Day. He shared that the subtle change of term allowed him to understand the reason for his problems, as he was not diagnosed until 2011, and had dealt with his personal issues for four decades. He stated that Honor For Allow showed him that his problems were a wound, not a weakness, and with this understanding, he became a public spokesman. He noted that there were still 20 - 22 veteran suicides daily, declaring "that's just not acceptable." He stated that his organization would fight for any help to end this. He shared that 30 states were "on-board with resolutions." He lauded Alaska's reputation for "looking out for veterans." 3:31:17 PM CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ expressed appreciation for his service and his passion for this program, and offered hope for his success in healing. 3:32:01 PM VERDIE BOWEN, Director of Veterans Affairs, Office of Veterans Affairs, Department of Military & Veterans Affairs, stated his support for the proposed bill. He shared that the help was out there, but that the awareness of injuries caused through post- traumatic stress needed to be promoted. He noted that often veterans did not seek assistance, reporting that 30 percent of veterans from combat zones were experiencing this injury according to the Veterans' Administration. He stated that there were now 1600 new mental health professionals throughout the U.S. working with the Veterans' Administration. He offered his belief that signifying PTSI instead of PTSD would help eliminate the stigma to the injury. 3:35:24 PM ROBERT DOEHL, Deputy Commissioner, Office of the Commissioner/Adjutant General, Department of Military & Veterans Affairs, stated support for the proposed bill. He clarified that PTSI was not limited to veterans and there was no intent to demean any of the struggles faced in dealing with this. He reported that police officers had also expressed support for this as a tool when working with veterans "having a bad day." 3:37:03 PM CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ reiterated that post-traumatic stress injury was an injury not only experienced by veterans, and pointed out that many survivors of adverse childhood experiences also suffered from PTSI. She offered a personal story from her family regarding PTSI. She pointed out that anyone could suffer from this if put in the wrong circumstances. 3:38:42 PM REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON moved to report HB 100 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, HB 100 was moved from the House Health and Social Services Standing Committee.