res23294

R 294

2023 -- H 6352
Enacted 05/02/2023

H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

COMMEMORATING MAY OF 2023, AS "MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Representatives Baginski, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Cruz, Alzate, Casey, Boylan, Stewart, and Potter

Date Introduced: May 02, 2023

WHEREAS, A mental illness is a condition that affects a person's thinking, feeling or

mood and every year, millions of Americans are faced with the reality and circumstances of

living with this condition; and

WHEREAS, Since 1949, Mental Health America, joined by organizations from across

the country, have led the observance of May as Mental Health Month, with the mission of raising

awareness and educating the public about mental health. This year marks its 74th Anniversary;

and

WHEREAS, Mental Health Awareness Month strives to fight the stigma, attitudes, and

misconceptions that surround mental illnesses, and to provide support, educate the public, and

advocate for policies that support people with mental illness and their families; and

WHEREAS, One of the main reasons why individuals do not seek professional help is

due to the stigma that surrounds mental health. Individuals are afraid to seek the help and

treatment they need because they may be judged, ridiculed and shunned by others or they may

even judge themselves and resultantly, they often live in silence about their undiagnosed mental

health disorder; and

WHEREAS, Anyone can experience the challenges of mental illness regardless of their

background, age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion or economic status; and

WHEREAS, Depression affects over 17.3 million people in the United States each year.

It is the number one cause of disability worldwide and the primary reason why a person dies of

suicide every fourteen minutes; and

WHEREAS, Suicide is the 12th leading cause of death in the United States and more than

45,900 people are dying by suicide each year; and

WHEREAS, The pandemic has had a disruptive impact on the lives of people worldwide,

with nearly 32.3 percent of adults in the United State reporting that their mental health has been

negatively impacted due to worry and stress over the virus, but for teenagers and young people,

particularly those in the LGBTQ+ community, the experience has been overwhelming,

accelerating an already worrying decline in their mental health and spurring a youth mental health

crisis; and

WHEREAS, Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people between the

ages of 15 and 24, and the resulting restrictions from the virus has precipitated an epidemic of

mental health conditions among children and young people; and

WHEREAS, Mental Health Awareness Month is a time to bring about change through

compassion, concern, open-mindedness, and understanding, and to celebrate the journeys of

resiliency and recovery of individuals living with mental illness; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

commemorates May of 2023, as "Mental Health Awareness Month", and urges schools,

businesses, government agencies, and healthcare providers to commit to promoting and ensuring

innovative prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, and to spreading awareness through education

programs and understanding for mental health issues; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral

Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals and the Mental Health Association of

Rhode Island (MHARI).

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LC002872

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