Expressing support for designation of May 2010 as Mental Health Month.

[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1258 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1258

 Expressing support for designation of May 2010 as Mental Health Month.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 15, 2010

 Mrs. Napolitano (for herself, Mr. Tim Murphy of Pennsylvania, Ms. Lee 
of California, Mr. Rodriguez, Mr. McDermott, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson 
 of Texas, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, Mr. Stark, Mrs. Maloney, Ms. 
  Shea-Porter, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. 
     Salazar, Ms. Jackson Lee of Texas, Mr. Dreier, Mr. Holt, Ms. 
   Richardson, Mr. Baca, Ms. Kilpatrick of Michigan, Mr. Filner, Mr. 
 Wilson of Ohio, Mr. Loebsack, Mr. Capuano, Ms. Bordallo, Ms. Watson, 
Mr. Murphy of Connecticut, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Kagen, Mr. Hinchey, Mr. Van 
 Hollen, Mr. Baird, Mr. Rush, Ms. Woolsey, Mr. Israel, and Ms. Roybal-
 Allard) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing support for designation of May 2010 as Mental Health Month.

Whereas the mental health and well-being of people in the United States is a 
        critical issue that affects not only quality of life, but also the 
        health of communities, families, and economic stability;
Whereas the stigma associated with mental health continues to persist;
Whereas more than 57,000,000 people in the United States suffer from mental 
        illness;
Whereas approximately 1 in 5 children and adolescents has a diagnosable mental 
        disorder;
Whereas more than a quarter of the members of the United States Armed Forces 
        suffer from psychological or neurological injuries sustained from 
        combat, including major depression and post-traumatic stress disorder;
Whereas more than half of all prison and jail inmates suffer from mental 
        illness;
Whereas mental illness is the leading cause of disability in the Nation;
Whereas major mental illness costs businesses and the United States economy over 
        $193,000,000,000 per year in lost earnings;
Whereas untreated mental illness is a leading cause of absenteeism and lost 
        productivity in the workplace;
Whereas, in 2005, over 32,000 individuals died by suicide in the United States, 
        nearly twice the rate of homicide;
Whereas suicide is the third leading cause of death among youth between the ages 
        of 15 and 24;
Whereas, in 2004, individuals age 65 and older comprised only 12.4 percent of 
        the population but accounted for 16.6 percent of all suicides, and the 
        rate of suicide among older people is higher than for any other age 
        group;
Whereas 1 in 4 Latin American adolescents report seriously contemplating 
        suicide, a rate higher than any other demographic;
Whereas Native Americans currently rank as the top ethnicity for suicide rates 
        nationwide;
Whereas studies report that people with serious mental illness die, on average, 
        25 years earlier than the general population; and
Whereas it would be appropriate to observe May 2010 as Mental Health Month: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the designation of Mental Health Month in 
        order to place emphasis on scientific facts and findings 
        regarding mental health and to remove the stigma associated 
        with mental illness;
            (2) recognizes that 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 and community 
        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 organizations and health practitioners 
        to use 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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