Title: Expressing support for the designation of May 2017 as "Mental Health Month".
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Supports the designation of Mental Health Month to remove the stigma associated with mental illness and to place emphasis on scientific findings regarding mental health recovery.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 320 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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;
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;
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
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the designation of ``Mental Health Month'' to 
        remove the stigma associated with mental illness and place 
        emphasis on scientific findings regarding mental health 
        recovery;
            (2) recognizes mental well-being is equally as important as 
        physical well-being for citizens, communities, businesses, and 
        the economy in the United States;
            (3) applauds the coalescing of national, community, 
        medical, and faith-based organizations in working to promote 
        public awareness of mental health and providing critical 
        information and support to the people and families affected by 
        mental illness;
            (4) supports the finding of the President's Commission on 
        Mental Health that the Nation's failure to prioritize mental 
        health is a national tragedy; and
            (5) encourages all to draw on ``Mental Health Month'' as an 
        opportunity to promote mental well-being and awareness, ensure 
        access to appropriate services, and support overall quality of 
        life for those living with mental illness.
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