Bill Text: DE HCR42 | 2023-2024 | 152nd General Assembly | Draft
Bill Title: Recognizing The Month Of May 2023 As Mental Health Awareness Month.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 16-6)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2023-05-04 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT [HCR42 Detail]
Download: Delaware-2023-HCR42-Draft.html
|
SPONSOR: |
Rep. Longhurst & Rep. Dorsey Walker & Sen. Poore |
|
Reps. Baumbach, Briggs King, Hensley, Morrison, Neal, Ramone, Michael Smith, Wilson-Anton, Yearick; Sens. Hansen, Hocker, Hoffner, Mantzavinos, S. McBride, Pinkney |
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 42
RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF MAY 2023 AS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH.
WHEREAS, 1 in 5 adults in the United States experience mental illness each year, but less than half of them receive treatment; and
WHEREAS, over 100 Americans, teens through older adults, die by suicide each day, and suicide is the second leading cause of death among Americans aged 10-34; and
WHEREAS, mental illness and substance use disorders are involved in 1 out of every 8 emergency department visits by an adult in the United States; and
WHEREAS, nationally, 37% of incarcerated adults and 70.4% of youth in the juvenile justice system have a diagnosed mental illness; and
WHEREAS, 11% of youth have a mood disorder, 10% of youth have a behavior or conduct disorder, and 8% of youth have an anxiety disorder; and
WHEREAS, 50% of all lifelong cases of mental illness begin by age 14, and
WHEREAS, mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of the importance of mental health and the advantages to individuals and our communities of providing resources to identify and treat mental health conditions as early as possible, the 151st General Assembly passed HB 100 and HB 300 which will create a mental health services unit to fund a position for counselors, psychologists, social workers and mental health therapists in schools with kindergarten through 5th grade, and in 6th through 8th grade; and
WHEREAS, to continue the work of HB 100 and HB 300, the General Assembly has introduced and is considering HB 200 which would create a mental health services unit in schools with 9th through 12th grade; and
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic and associated economic, social, and educational disruptions have served to exacerbate mental health conditions in both adults and children, making the availability of mental health resources more important than ever.
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 152nd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that May is recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly calls upon citizens, government agencies, and others to raise mental health awareness and continue helping Delawareans to live longer, healthier, more productive lives.
SYNOPSIS
This Concurrent Resolution recognizes the month of May 2023 as Mental Health Awareness Month.
