Bill Text: TX HCR16 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Designating May as Mental Health Month for a 10-year period beginning in 2019.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-02-25 - Referred to Public Health [HCR16 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HCR16-Introduced.html
| 86R2625 BK-D | ||
| By: Thierry | H.C.R. No. 16 | |
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| WHEREAS, The annual observance of Mental Health Month in May | ||
| serves as an opportunity to bring about greater public | ||
| understanding of mental health issues and to promote treatment, | ||
| care, and support for those living with mental illness; and | ||
| WHEREAS, A mental illness is a medical condition that | ||
| disrupts a person's thinking, feeling, mood, interpersonal | ||
| relationships, and, in the most serious cases, their ability to | ||
| carry out the essential tasks of daily life; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Every year, approximately 42.5 million American | ||
| adults, comprising slightly over 18 percent of the total adult | ||
| population, suffer from some form of mental illness, such as | ||
| depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia; in Texas, one in | ||
| every five adults will experience a mental health concern at some | ||
| point in a given year, and more than 20 percent of children between | ||
| the ages of 9 and 17 have a diagnosed mental illness; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, | ||
| race, religion, or income and are not the result of personal | ||
| weakness or lack of character; many individuals with mental health | ||
| disorders experience feelings of alienation from their peers | ||
| because of their condition, and there remains a strong stigma | ||
| attached to mental illness that can result in discrimination, | ||
| including from families, friends, employers, and others; mental | ||
| health problems can impact a person's quality of life in numerous | ||
| ways, and severe, untreated cases are associated with a higher risk | ||
| of suicide; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Innovations and advancements in mental health care, | ||
| ranging from medications and therapy to various support services, | ||
| have helped make recovery a reality for countless people; outcomes | ||
| are shown to be greatly improved when patients are engaged and | ||
| involved in their own care and when they receive acceptance and | ||
| encouragement from loved ones and peers; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Increased public awareness, support, and advocacy | ||
| are key to improving issues related to mental illness, and all | ||
| Texans are encouraged to affirm their commitment to these important | ||
| efforts; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the 86th Legislature of the State of Texas | ||
| hereby designate May as Mental Health Month; and, be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That in accordance with the provisions of Section | ||
| 391.004(d), Government Code, this designation remain in effect | ||
| until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is finally | ||
| passed by the legislature. | ||
