| R 237 |
| 2024 -- H 8211 Enacted 04/30/2024 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| RECOGNIZING MAY OF 2024 AS "MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND |
Introduced By: Representatives Tanzi, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Felix, J. Lombardi, Kennedy, Fellela, Shallcross Smith, and Ajello |
| Date Introduced: April 30, 2024 |
| WHEREAS, Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being; |
| it affects how we think, feel, and act; it also affects how we handle stress, relate to others, and |
| make choices; and |
| WHEREAS, Mental health allows us to maintain relationships, take care of ourselves and |
| our families, take care of our physical bodies, and respond and adapt to daily life changes; and |
| WHEREAS, Nearly 20 percent of children and young people ages 3-17 in the United |
| States have a mental, emotional, developmental or behavioral disorder; and |
| WHEREAS, One in five adolescents aged 12 to 17 have had a major depressive episode |
| in the past year; and |
| WHEREAS, The number of deaths by suicide increased by 8 percent from 2011 to 2022; |
| and |
| WHEREAS, Suicide is the second leading cause of death amongst people aged 10 – 34 |
| and the 11th leading cause of death in the United States; and |
| WHEREAS, A lack of mental health awareness leads to devastating impacts on the |
| wellbeing of individuals and society; and |
| WHEREAS, Evidence-based mental and behavioral health training teaches adults how to |
| recognize signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges in youth and adults, |
| and provides skills to use a 5-step action plan to help someone who may be facing a mental health |
| challenge or crisis, such as suicide; and |
| WHEREAS, Teen Mental Health First Aid trainings are proven to reduce stigma and |
| teach teens how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use |
| challenges among their friends and peers; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby |
| recognizes "Mental Health Awareness Month" in the State of Rhode Island. We moreover call |
| upon citizens, counties, organizations, health care providers, and schools to raise mental health |
| awareness, provide age-appropriate mental health education and training, and continue helping |
| Rhode Island citizens live longer, healthier lives; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
| transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Director of the Rhode Island Department of |
| Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals. |
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| LC005758 |
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