; Whereas many cases of PTSI remain unreported, undiagnosed, and untreated due to a lack of awareness about PTSI and the persistent stigma associated with mental health conditions; Whereas exposure to military trauma can lead to PTSI; Whereas PTSI significantly increases the risk of anxiety, depression, suicide, homelessness, and drug- and alcohol-related injuries and deaths, especially if left untreated; Whereas public perceptions of PTSI or other mental health injuries 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 PTSI and the symptoms of PTSI, but many challenges remain; Whereas increased understanding of PTSI can help diminish the stigma attached to this mental health issue, and additional efforts are needed to find further ways to reduce this stigma—including an examination of how PTSI is discussed in the United States and a recognition that PTSI is a common injury that is treatable and repairable; Whereas the diagnosis now known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder was first defined by the American Psychiatric Association in 1980 to commonly and more accurately understand and treat veterans who had endured severe traumatic combat stress; Whereas combat stress has previously been viewed as a mental illness caused by a pre-existing flaw of character and/or ability; and the word disorder carries a stigma that perpetuates this misconception; Whereas making PTSI less stigmatizing and more honorable can favorably influence those affected and encourage them to seek help without fear of retribution or shame