Expressing support for the designation of May 2024 as "Mental Health Awareness Month".

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1206 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1206

 Expressing support for the designation of May 2024 as ``Mental Health 
                           Awareness Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 7, 2024

   Mrs. Napolitano (for herself, Mr. Beyer, Ms. Salinas, Mrs. Watson 
Coleman, Mr. Trone, Ms. Norton, Ms. Porter, Mr. Tonko, Mr. Peters, Ms. 
 Jackson Lee, Mr. Torres of New York, Ms. Chu, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mr. 
 Sablan, Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick, Mr. Kim of New Jersey, Ms. Sewell, 
 Ms. Dean of Pennsylvania, Ms. Sherrill, Ms. Pettersen, Mrs. Ramirez, 
   Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Ms. Barragan, Ms. Matsui, Mr. Bacon, Mr. 
 Moskowitz, Ms. Lee of Nevada, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Mr. Fitzpatrick, 
   Ms. Balint, Ms. Tokuda, Ms. Stansbury, Mrs. Trahan, Ms. Castor of 
 Florida, Ms. McCollum, Mr. Cardenas, Mr. Costa, Ms. Brownley, and Mr. 
Norcross) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing support for the designation of May 2024 as ``Mental Health 
                           Awareness Month''.

Whereas Americans across the country continue to confront an ongoing mental 
        health crisis;
Whereas we continue to see increasing reports of loneliness, stress, anxiety, 
        depression, suicidal thoughts, and substance abuse;
Whereas the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health conducted by found 
        that--

    (1) the number of American adults living with a mental illness has 
risen from 51,400,000 in 2019 to 59,300,000 in 2022;

    (2) 23 percent of Americans over the age of 18 and 36 percent of 
Americans between the ages of 18 and 25 have lived with a mental illness 
during the past year; and

    (3) 13,200,000 adults had serious thoughts of suicide during the past 
year;

Whereas an October 2022 Kaiser Family Foundation/CNN Mental Health in America 
        Survey found that--

    (1) 90 percent of the public think that there is a mental health crisis 
in the United States today;

    (2) 55 percent of the public think that mental health issues in 
children and teenagers in the United States today are a crisis;

    (3) 47 percent of parents say that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a 
negative impact on their child's mental health; and

    (4) 51 percent of all adults say they or a family member has 
experienced a severe mental health crisis;

Whereas the Stress in America 2023 survey conducted by the American 
        Psychological Association found that--

    (1) 26 percent of adults are so stressed that they struggle to 
function;

    (2) 47 percent of adults struggle to go to work or attend school 
because of stress; and

    (3) 58 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 34 feel 
completely overwhelmed by stress every day;

Whereas the 2022 Access to Care Survey conducted by the National Council for 
        Mental Wellbeing found that--

    (1) 2 in 5 Americans reported needing mental health care;

    (2) 43 percent of Americans who needed mental health care over the past 
12 months did not receive it; and

    (3) two-thirds of Americans believe that it is harder to find a mental 
health care provider than it is to find a physical health care provider;

Whereas a February 2024 Household Pulse Survey found that 17.7 percent of adults 
        reported symptoms of anxiety disorder;
Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 
        mental health disorders are chronic conditions, and without proper 
        diagnosis and treatment children can face problems at home and in school 
        which can interfere with their future development;
Whereas more resources should be dedicated in schools to the prevention, early 
        detection, and treatment of mental health disorders in children;
Whereas childhood depression is more likely to persist into adulthood if it is 
        left untreated;
Whereas it is important that the United States provide the necessary funding and 
        resources to reach children and youth early on in life;
Whereas the October 14, 2022, CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report found 
        that 3 in 4 high school students experienced at least 1 adverse 
        childhood experience during the COVID-19 pandemic and that these 
        experiences increase an individual's likelihood to report poor mental 
        health or suicidal behavior in the future;
Whereas the May 12, 2023, CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report found that 
        between 2020 and 2023, the number of pediatric emergency department 
        visits associated with mental health conditions increased and was most 
        pronounced in girls between the ages of 12 and 17;
Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the use of digital technologies, 
        such as any social media;
Whereas there has been a great concern about the impact of social media on the 
        mental health of children and youth;
Whereas social media does expose children to bullying, depression, anxiety, and 
        self-harm;
Whereas there is a strong need to further understand and deter any negative 
        impacts of social media on children and youth;
Whereas the CDC's Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary and Trends Report: 
        2011-2021, found that--

    (1) nearly 3 in 5 teenage girls in the United States felt persistently 
sad or hopeless in 2021, which is double that of boys and the highest 
levels reported in decades;

    (2) 30 percent of teenage girls in the United States seriously 
considered attempting suicide in the past year; and

    (3) youth experienced high and worsening levels of persistent sadness 
or hopelessness across all racial and ethnics groups;

Whereas the 2022 Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey prepared by the CDC 
        found that--

    (1) 36 percent of heterosexual high school students and 75 percent of 
LGBTQ+ high school students felt persistently sad or hopeless for an 
extended period during the last 12 months;

    (2) 14 percent of heterosexual high school students and 47 percent of 
LGBTQ+ high school students seriously considered attempting suicide during 
the last 12 months; and

    (3) 5 percent of heterosexual high school students and 26 percent of 
LGBTQ+ high school students actually attempted suicide during the last 12 
months;

Whereas, according to the 2023 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health 
        conducted by The Trevor Project, 56 percent of LGBTQ youth who wanted 
        mental health care in the past year were not able to get it and 41 
        percent of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide over this 
        same time period;
Whereas disparities remain in access to mental health treatment for communities 
        of color, with Asian, Native American, Hispanic, and Black individuals 
        less likely to receive mental health care than their White counterparts;
Whereas a July 2021 survey conducted by the National Council for Mental 
        Wellbeing found that from July 2020 to July 2021--

    (1) 46 percent of Black adults say they are experiencing more stress 
and mental health challenges, but just 21 percent say they have received 
treatment or care of any kind for their mental health;

    (2) 45 percent of Native American adults have experienced more stress 
and mental health challenges, but only 24 percent have received treatment 
for mental health;

    (3) 42 percent of Hispanic adults report experiencing more stress and 
mental health challenges, but just 26 percent say they have received mental 
health treatment;

    (4) 40 percent of Asian adults say they are experiencing more stress 
and mental health challenges, but just 11 percent say they have received 
treatment or care of any kind; and

    (5) almost half (47 percent) of all adults surveyed stated that the 
cost of help or treatment is an obstacle in seeking treatment for their 
mental health;

Whereas, in 2021, the Kaiser Family Foundation found that over half of White, 
        Hispanic, and Black adults say that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a 
        negative impact on their mental health;
Whereas suicide is a significant public health issue that can have an enduring 
        impact on individuals and their communities;
Whereas additional resources should be dedicated to the prevention of suicide in 
        the United States;
Whereas, according to the CDC, the overall suicide rate in the United States 
        increased by 30 percent between 2000 and 2020;
Whereas, according to the CDC, the total number of deaths by suicide in the 
        United States increased by 2.6 percent between 2021 and 2022;
Whereas provisional data published by the CDC in November 2023 found that--

    (1) suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States; 
and

    (2) the number of suicides was 3 percent higher in 2022 than it was in 
2021;

Whereas veterans are more likely to experience mental health challenges than 
        nonveterans;
Whereas it is important that the United States provide additional funding and 
        resources to support veterans with mental health needs;
Whereas the 2023 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report found that--

    (1) 6,392 veterans died by suicide in 2021, which is a daily average of 
17.5;

    (2) the suicide rate for veterans was 71.8-percent greater than for 
nonveteran United States adults; and

    (3) the suicide rate was highest among veterans between the ages of 18 
and 34; and

Whereas it would be appropriate to observe May 2024 as ``Mental Health Awareness 
        Month'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the designation of ``Mental Health Awareness 
        Month'' to remove the stigma associated with mental illness and 
        place emphasis on scientific findings regarding mental health 
        recovery;
            (2) declares mental health a national priority;
            (3) supports the expansion of funding for mental health 
        services;
            (4) recognizes that mental well-being is equally as 
        important as physical well-being for citizens, communities, 
        schools, businesses, and the economy in the United States;
            (5) applauds the coalescing of national, State, local, 
        medical, and faith-based organizations in working to promote 
        public awareness of mental health and providing critical 
        information and supports to individuals and families affected 
        by mental illness; and
            (6) encourages all to draw on ``Mental Health Awareness 
        Month'' as an opportunity to promote mental well-being and 
        awareness, ensure access to appropriate coverage and services, 
        and support overall quality of life for those living with 
        mental illness.
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