2024 -- S 3051

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LC006056

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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S E N A T 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: Senator Alana DiMario

     Date Introduced: May 03, 2024

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     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 Senate 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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LC006056

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