III 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 254 

Expressing support for the designation of May 2021 as ‘‘Mental Health 

Awareness Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 27, 2021 

Mr. LUJA ́N (for himself and Mr. PORTMAN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 

and Pensions 

JUNE 10, 2021 

Committee discharged; considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of May 2021 as 

‘‘Mental Health Awareness Month’’. 

Whereas the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (‘‘COVID–19’’) public health emergency has taken a toll on the mental wellbeing of the people of the United States and may be 

stressful for many people of the United States; 

Whereas the people of the United States have witnessed how 

fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming 

and contribute to strong emotions in both adults and 

children; 

Whereas the Joint Economic Committee of Congress released 

a report in October of 2020 on COVID–19 and how it 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
2 

SRES 254 ATS 

has worsened the mental health crisis in the United 

States; 

Whereas the September 2020 Census Bureau survey found 

that 37 percent of adults in the United States reported 

symptoms of anxiety or depression disorder, triple the 

percentage reported in 2019; 

Whereas the August 14, 2020, Centers for Disease Control 

and Prevention (referred to in this preamble ‘‘CDC’’) 

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report stated that— 

(1) symptoms of anxiety disorder and depressive disorder increased considerably in the United States during 

the period of April to June of 2020 compared with the 

same period in 2019; and 

(2) during late June 2020— 

(A) 40 percent of adults in the United States 

reported struggling with mental health or substance 

use; 

(B) nearly 31 percent experienced symptoms of 

anxiety or depression; 

(C) 26 percent experienced symptoms of 

trauma- and stressor-related disorders (‘‘TSRD’’); 

(D) 13 percent started or increased substance 

use; and 

(E) nearly 11 percent seriously considered suicide; 

(3) 25 percent of young adults aged 18 to 24 years 

old reported they started or had increased substance use 

during the pandemic, compared to 13 percent of all 

adults; 

(4) 26 percent of young adults aged 18 to 24 years 

old reported thoughts of suicide, compared to 11 percent 

of all adults; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
3 

SRES 254 ATS 

(5) nearly 41 percent of Hispanic respondents reported symptoms consistent with an anxiety or depressive 

disorder, nearly 35 percent experienced COVID–19 related TSRD, and nearly 22 percent increased substance 

use to cope with pandemic stress and emotions; 

(6) nearly 30 percent of Black, non-Hispanic respondents reported symptoms consistent with an anxiety 

or depressive disorder, more than 30 percent experienced 

COVID–19 related TSRD, and more than 18 percent increased substance use to cope with pandemic stress and 

emotions; and 

(7) 18 percent of Asian, non-Hispanic respondents 

reported symptoms consistent with an anxiety or depressive disorder, 22 percent experienced COVID–19 related 

TSRD, and more than 6 percent increased substance use 

to cope with pandemic stress and emotions; 

Whereas according to the American Psychological Association, in 2020— 

(1) nearly 1 in 5 adults saw their mental health 

worsen in the last year; and 

(2) 61 percent of adults stated they could have used 

more emotional support than they received over the prior 

12 months; 

Whereas there was a 1,000-percent increase in text messages 

in April 2020 on a Federal text emergency hotline for 

people in emotional distress; 

Whereas according to the Pew Research Center, more than 

one-third of people in the United States have experienced 

high levels of psychological distress at some point during 

the extended period of social distancing; 

Whereas the Census Bureau 2020 Household Pulse Survey 

found that— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
4 

SRES 254 ATS 

(1) in December 2020, 47 percent of women reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder compared to 38 percent of men; and 

(2) as of December 2020, 56 percent of young 

adults have reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive 

disorder; 

Whereas the November 13, 2020, CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report found that between March 2020 

and October 2020 there was a 24-percent increase nationwide in mental health related emergency room visits 

among children between the ages of 5 and 11 and a 31- 

percent increase among those between 12 and 17, compared with the same period in 2019; 

Whereas 74 percent of LGBT people stated that worry and 

stress from the pandemic has had a negative impact on 

their mental health, compared to 49 percent of those who 

are not LGBT; 

Whereas the February 5, 2021, CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report found that current symptoms of depression were reported 59 percent more frequently by 

Hispanic adults than by White, non-Hispanic adults; 

Whereas a survey found that in May 2020, 20 percent of 

Latinos surveyed were experiencing anxiety and 15.7 percent of Latinos were experiencing increased stress due to 

the COVID–19 pandemic and lockdown; 

Whereas, from June 2020 to September 2020, 93 percent of 

health care workers were experiencing stress, 86 percent 

were experiencing anxiety, 76 percent reported exhaustion and burnout, 75 percent said they were overwhelmed, and 39 percent said they did not feel like they 

had adequate emotional support; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
5 

SRES 254 ATS 

Whereas, in 2020, a Kaiser Family Foundation analysis 

found that 42 percent of essential workers surveyed reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depressive 

disorder, 25 percent started or increased substance use to 

cope with stress or emotions related to COVID–19, and 

22 percent considered suicide in the past 30 days; and 

Whereas it would be appropriate to observe May 2021 as 

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

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

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

3 Awareness Month’’ to remove the stigma associated 

4 with mental illness and place emphasis on scientific 

5 findings regarding mental health recovery; 

6 (2) declares mental health a national priority; 

7 (3) recognizes mental well-being is equally as 

8 important as physical well-being for citizens, commu9 nities, schools, businesses, and the economy in the 

10 United States; 

11 (4) applauds the coalescing of national, State, 

12 local, medical, and faith-based organizations in 

13 working to promote public awareness of mental 

14 health and providing critical information and sup15 port during this pandemic to individuals and families 

16 affected by mental illness; and 

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

18 Awareness Month’’ as an opportunity to promote 

19 mental well-being and awareness, ensure access to 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
6 

SRES 254 ATS 

1 appropriate services and care, and support overall 

2 quality of life for those living with mental illness. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS