| R 264 |
| 2025 -- H 6301 Enacted 05/06/2025 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| RECOGNIZING MAY OF 2025 AS "MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND |
Introduced By: Representatives Tanzi, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Cruz, Ajello, Boylan, Shallcross Smith, Cortvriend, and Potter |
| Date Introduced: May 06, 2025 |
| 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, According to Mental Health America (MHA), approximately 20 percent of |
| teenagers reported having at least one major depressive episode in 2024; and |
| WHEREAS, In 2024, The United States suicide rate reached a record high, rising to 14.7 |
| deaths per 100,000 individuals, a 30 percent increase over the past two decades; 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 well- |
| being 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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| LC002484 |
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