III 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 284 

Recognizing the importance of mental health globally and highlighting the 

contributions and value of mental health, psychosocial support, and 

human capacity, particularly in development contexts and humanitarian 

settings. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

OCTOBER 8, 2015 

Mr. MURPHY (for himself and Mr. CASSIDY) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the importance of mental health globally and 

highlighting the contributions and value of mental health, 

psychosocial support, and human capacity, particularly 

in development contexts and humanitarian settings. 

Whereas, on October 10, 2015, World Mental Health Day is 

observed; 

Whereas mental health is essential to achieve the full potential of an individual and mental health disorders 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; 


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•SRES 284 IS 

Whereas depression is the third leading cause of disease burden globally, and by 2030, depression will be the highest 

cause of disease burden in low-income countries and the 

second highest cause of disease burden in middle-income 

countries; 

Whereas depression has a particularly negative impact on 

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

countries of residence; 

Whereas approximately 3,000 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 and persistent mental illness, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, affects up to 7 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 more than $6,000,000,000,000 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; 

Whereas in high-income countries, approximately 1⁄2 of individuals afflicted with mental health disorders do not receive appropriate mental health care; 

Whereas in low-income countries, approximately 85 percent 

to 90 percent of individuals afflicted with mental health 

disorders do not receive appropriate mental health care; 


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Whereas traumatic events and losses are common experiences, especially among refugees and internally displaced 

individuals, 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 Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes the importance of World Mental 

3 Health Day; 

4 (2) affirms the continued support of the United 

5 States for making resources available to provide 

6 mental health services and build capacity across 

7 countries and income levels, in particular in coun8 tries affected by conflict and crisis; 

9 (3) honors the importance of trained mental 

10 health workers as they enhance human well-being 

11 and mental health, restore functioning, and save 


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•SRES 284 IS 

1 lives by ensuring the availability of high-quality, con2 text-relevant mental health and psychosocial support 

3 services; 

4 (4) calls on the Secretary of State, the Admin5 istrator of the United States Agency for Inter6 national Development, and the heads of other rel7 evant agencies to integrate mental health and psy8 chosocial support services into programs, funding 

9 opportunities, and budget allocations in order to im10 prove the overall quality of life of individuals living 

11 with mental health disorders; and 

12 (5) commends the dedication of organizations, 

13 professionals, and volunteers globally who work to 

14 improve the mental health of all individuals, and the 

15 important contributions and bravery of individuals 

16 globally who live with or have overcome mental 

17 health disorders. 

Æ 


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