IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 320 

Expressing support for the designation of May 2017 as ‘‘Mental Health 

Month’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 11, 2017 

Mr. MURPHY of Pennsylvania (for himself, Mr. KILMER, Mr. O’HALLERAN, 

Mr. MEEKS, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. LARSEN of Washington, Mr. PETERS, Mr. 

SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. 

LOEBSACK, Mrs. COMSTOCK, Mrs. MIMI WALTERS of California, Mr. 

MEEHAN, Mr. JOYCE of Ohio, Ms. NORTON, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Ms. 

CLARKE of New York, and Ms. DELBENE) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of May 2017 as 

‘‘Mental Health Month’’. 

Whereas the mental health and well-being of people in the 

United States is a vital issue that affects not only quality 

of life, but also the health of communities, families, and 

economic stability; 

Whereas individuals with mental illness and behavioral health 

disorders can and do recover utilizing treatment regimens, including psychosocial therapies, peer support, and 

clinical help, as well as other behavioral, psychiatric, psychological, faith-based and pastoral care, and medical 

services; 


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•HRES 320 IH 

Whereas parents, families, and caregivers are allies in recovery and serve as critical members of the care delivery 

team; 

Whereas advances in brain and behavioral research show significant promise for continued improvements in effective 

treatments of mental illness; 

Whereas 43,421,000 adults in the United States experience 

mental illness; 

Whereas approximately 1 in 5 children and adolescents has 

a diagnosable mental disorder at any one point in time, 

and 50 percent of all mental disorders begin by age 14 

and 75 percent by age 24; 

Whereas 9,765,000 adults in the United States experience 

conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and 

major depression; 

Whereas 3,403,000 adults in the United States with a diagnosis of serious mental illness do not receive treatment; 

Whereas post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) impacts 14 

to 24 percent of service members and veterans of the 

wars in Afghanistan and Iraq; 

Whereas roughly 20 to 50 percent of all prison and jail inmates are diagnosed with a mental illness and United 

States prisons are home to 10 times more people with 

mental illness than psychiatric hospitals; 

Whereas mental illness is the leading cause of disability in 

the Nation; 

Whereas untreated mental illness is a leading cause of absenteeism and lost earnings and productivity in the workplace and costs the United States economy over 

$193,000,000,000 per year in lost earnings; 


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•HRES 320 IH 

Whereas suicide is the second leading cause of death among 

individuals between the ages of 25 and 34; 

Whereas 1 in 4 Latino adolescents girls report contemplating 

suicide, a rate higher than any other demographic; 

Whereas Native Americans currently rank as the top ethnicity for suicide rates among young people nationwide; 

Whereas studies report that people with serious mental illness 

die, on average, 25 years earlier than the general population; 

Whereas those with mental illness are 11 times more likely 

to be the victims of crime and abuse; 

Whereas lack of awareness of one’s mental illness, known as 

anosognosia, affects approximately 50 percent of individuals with schizophrenia and 40 percent of individuals 

with bipolar disorder making it more challenging to receive care; 

Whereas the delay between a first episode of psychosis and 

onset of treatment is an average of 70 weeks; 

Whereas stigma associated with mental illness continues to 

persist; 

Whereas recovery-oriented interventions such as supported 

employment, supported housing, and supported education 

have been shown to improve outcomes; 

Whereas the faith community provides a vital link in ministering and serving individuals and families in need of 

mental health services; 

Whereas individuals engaged in peer recovery support services utilize crisis and emergency services less; and 

Whereas it would be appropriate to observe May 2017 as 

‘‘Mental Health Month’’: Now, therefore, be it 


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•HRES 320 IH 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the designation of ‘‘Mental Health 

3 Month’’ to remove the stigma associated with mental 

4 illness and place emphasis on scientific findings re5 garding mental health recovery; 

6 (2) recognizes mental well-being is equally as 

7 important as physical well-being for citizens, commu8 nities, businesses, and the economy in the United 

9 States; 

10 (3) applauds the coalescing of national, commu11 nity, medical, and faith-based organizations in work12 ing to promote public awareness of mental health 

13 and providing critical information and support to the 

14 people and families affected by mental illness; 

15 (4) supports the finding of the President’s 

16 Commission on Mental Health that the Nation’s fail17 ure to prioritize mental health is a national tragedy; 

18 and 

19 (5) encourages all to draw on ‘‘Mental Health 

20 Month’’ as an opportunity to promote mental well21 being and awareness, ensure access to appropriate 

22 services, and support overall quality of life for those 

23 living with mental illness. 

Æ 


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