IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1258 

Expressing support for designation of May 2010 as Mental Health Month. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 15, 2010 

Mrs. NAPOLITANO (for herself, Mr. TIM MURPHY of Pennsylvania, Ms. LEE

of California, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE

JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. STARK, Mrs. 

MALONEY, Ms. SHEA-PORTER, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mr. SALAZAR, Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas, Mr. DREIER, 

Mr. HOLT, Ms. RICHARDSON, Mr. BACA, Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan, 

Mr. FILNER, Mr. WILSON of Ohio, Mr. LOEBSACK, Mr. CAPUANO, Ms. 

BORDALLO, Ms. WATSON, Mr. MURPHY of Connecticut, Mr. RANGEL, 

Mr. KAGEN, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. BAIRD, Mr. RUSH, 

Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. ISRAEL, and Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 

Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for designation of May 2010 as Mental 

Health Month. 

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

United States is a critical issue that affects not only 

quality of life, but also the health of communities, families, and economic stability; 

Whereas the stigma associated with mental health continues 

to persist; 

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Whereas more than 57,000,000 people in the United States 

suffer from mental illness; 

Whereas approximately 1 in 5 children and adolescents has 

a diagnosable mental disorder; 

Whereas more than a quarter of the members of the United 

States Armed Forces suffer from psychological or neurological injuries sustained from combat, including major 

depression and post-traumatic stress disorder; 

Whereas more than half of all prison and jail inmates suffer 

from mental illness; 

Whereas mental illness is the leading cause of disability in 

the Nation; 

Whereas major mental illness costs businesses and the United 

States economy over $193,000,000,000 per year in lost 

earnings; 

Whereas untreated mental illness is a leading cause of absenteeism and lost productivity in the workplace; 

Whereas, in 2005, over 32,000 individuals died by suicide in 

the United States, nearly twice the rate of homicide; 

Whereas suicide is the third leading cause of death among 

youth between the ages of 15 and 24; 

Whereas, in 2004, individuals age 65 and older comprised 

only 12.4 percent of the population but accounted for 

16.6 percent of all suicides, and the rate of suicide 

among older people is higher than for any other age 

group; 

Whereas 1 in 4 Latin American adolescents report seriously 

contemplating suicide, a rate higher than any other demographic; 

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

Whereas studies report that people with serious mental illness 

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

Whereas it would be appropriate to observe May 2010 as 

Mental Health Month: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the designation of Mental Health 

3 Month in order to place emphasis on scientific facts 

4 and findings regarding mental health and to remove 

5 the stigma associated with mental illness; 

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

7 as important as physical well-being for citizens, com8 munities, businesses, and the economy in the United 

9 States; 

10 (3) applauds the coalescing of national and 

11 community organizations in working to promote 

12 public awareness of mental health and providing 

13 critical information and support to the people and 

14 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 

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1 (5) encourages all organizations and health 

2 practitioners to use Mental Health Month as an op3 portunity to promote mental well-being and aware4 ness, ensure access to appropriate services, and sup5 port overall quality of life for those living with men6 tal illness. 

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