IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1185 

Recognizing the importance of mental health globally and highlighting the 

contributions and value of mental health, well-being, psychosocial support, 

and human capacity, particularly in areas of economic inequity, development contexts, and humanitarian settings. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 9, 2020 

Mr. CA ́RDENAS (for himself, Mr. FITZPATRICK, and Mr. KENNEDY) submitted 

the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 

Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for 

a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 

consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the importance of mental health globally and 

highlighting the contributions and value of mental health, 

well-being, psychosocial support, and human capacity, 

particularly in areas of economic inequity, development 

contexts, and humanitarian settings. 

Whereas, on October 10, 2020, World Mental Health Day is 

observed; 

Whereas mental and physical health are inseparably intertwined, and there is no health without mental health; 

Whereas mental health is essential to achieve the full potential of individuals within societies, and mental health disVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:56 Oct 10, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1185.IH HR1185

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•HRES 1185 IH 

orders can affect the ability of an individual to carry out 

daily tasks, establish or maintain relationships, or pursue 

other fundamental endeavors; 

Whereas mental health disorders and substance use disorders 

are the leading causes of disability globally; 

Whereas depression is the leading cause of nonfatal disease 

burden globally and in the top five leading causes of disease burden globally, and by 2030, depression will be the 

leading cause of disease burden in low-income countries 

and the second highest cause of disease burden in middleincome countries; 

Whereas depression has a particularly negative impact on 

women, for whom depression is the leading cause of disease burden independent of income level of their countries of residence; 

Whereas nearly 2,200 suicide deaths occur each day globally; 

Whereas for each completed suicide, 20 more individuals attempt to commit suicide; 

Whereas up to 90 percent of individuals who commit suicide 

have a diagnosable mental health disorder; 

Whereas serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, affects between 13 and 37 percent of the 

population of the world and is extremely debilitating; 

Whereas the global cost of mental health disorders was 

$2,500,000,000,000 in 2010 and is projected to increase 

to nearly $16,000,000,000,000 by 2030, but the total 

amount of development assistance for global mental 

health was only $134,000,000 between 2007 and 2013, 

less than 1 percent of all development assistance; 


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•HRES 1185 IH 

Whereas in high-income countries, approximately 20 percent 

of individuals afflicted with mental health disorders do 

not receive appropriate mental health care; 

Whereas in low-income countries, as many as 90 percent of 

individuals afflicted with serious mental health disorders 

do not receive appropriate mental health care; 

Whereas traumatic events and losses are common experiences, especially among those who live through societal 

conflict, and may— 

(1) double the incidence of mental health disorders; 

(2) result in intense suffering and dysfunction; and 

(3) require mental health treatment; 

Whereas integrating mental health and psychosocial support 

into health and social sectors improves the health, economic development, and political stability of the population, builds the capacity of staff and health facilities, 

and creates nonstigmatizing mental health services; and 

Whereas there is an urgent need to create readily accessible, 

high-quality mental health services in line with national 

and global guidelines by designing and implementing 

comprehensive programs that are culturally, developmentally, and linguistically appropriate, building local 

human resource capacity, and strengthening health systems: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the importance of World Mental 

3 Health Day; 

4 (2) affirms the continued support of the United 

5 States to address mental health issues across counVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:56 Oct 10, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR1185.IH HR1185

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•HRES 1185 IH 

1 tries and income levels, in particular in nations af2 fected by conflict and disaster; 

3 (3) honors the importance of trained mental 

4 health workers as they enhance human well-being 

5 and mental health, restore functioning, and save 

6 lives by contributing to high-quality, context-relevant 

7 mental health and psychosocial support services; 

8 (4) calls on the Secretary of State, the Admin9 istrator of the United States Agency for Inter10 national Development, and the heads of other rel11 evant agencies to integrate mental health and psy12 chosocial perspectives into their work in order to im13 prove the quality of life of individuals living with 

14 mental health disorders; and 

15 (5) commends the dedication of organizations, 

16 professionals, and volunteers globally who work to 

17 improve the mental health of individuals and soci18 eties, and the important contributions and bravery 

19 of individuals globally who have lived experience of 

20 mental health disorders. 

Æ 


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