HR 8065 2022
hr8065-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
House Resolution 1
A resolution designating May 2022 as "Mental Illness 2
Awareness Month" in Florida. 3
4
WHEREAS, the mental health and well -being of all children, 5
youth, and families is fundamental to the future of our state 6
and local communities, and 7
WHEREAS, the effective treatment of mental health 8
conditions is critical to reducing the number of individuals and 9
families who find themselves in mental health crises, breaking 10
individual and generational cycles of mental illness, and 11
promoting healing within one's self, home, and community, and 12
WHEREAS, suicide, opioid misuse and addiction, and 13
children's mental health remain areas of concern for the state, 14
and 15
WHEREAS, maintaining a n open dialogue regarding mental 16
health conditions encourages individuals struggling with mental 17
illness to seek help and is an essential component to fighting 18
the stigma associated with mental illness, and 19
WHEREAS, there are approximately 660,000 adults and 181,000 20
children in the state who are living with a serious mental 21
illness, including, but not limited to, bipolar disorder, severe 22
depression, and schizophrenia, and 23
WHEREAS, nearly half of the state's population will 24
struggle with less severe forms of mental illness at some point 25
HR 8065 2022
hr8065-00
Page 2 of 2
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
during their lifetimes, and 26
WHEREAS, recovery from a mental illness begins with self -27
directed care and involves families and caregivers serving as 28
allies in recovery and as critical members of the care delivery 29
team, and 30
WHEREAS, since 1999, the national suicide rate has 31
increased more than 30 percent, with more than 10 million 32
individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts and 1.4 million 33
individuals attempting suicide annually in the United States, 34
and 35
WHEREAS, approximately 129 individuals die by suicide in 36
the United States each day, NOW, THEREFORE, 37
38
Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of 39
Florida: 40
41
That May 2022 is designated as "Mental Illness Awareness 42
Month" in Florida to raise awareness of m ental health conditions 43
and services and to break the stigma surrounding mental illness 44
in the state. 45