*HC1017*
Introduced Version
HOUSE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION No. ____
DIGEST OF INTRODUCED RESOL UTION
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing May as
Mental Health Awareness Month and the work of Mental
Health America.
Campbell, Klinker
_______________________, read first time and referred to Committee on
20241030
2024 HC 1017/DI 140 Introduced
Second Regular Session of the 123rd General Assembly (2024)
HOUSE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION No. ____
1 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing May as
2 Mental Health Awareness Month and the work of Mental
3 Health America.
4 Whereas, Mental health conditions comprise conditions such
5 as schizophrenia, PTSD, bipolar, borderline personality
6 disorder, ADHD, OCD, depression, anxiety, eating disorders,
7 suicide, addiction, and others;
8 Whereas, Nearly 44 million adults in the United States
9 experience mental health conditions in a given year, which is
10 approximately 1 in 5 American adults;
11 Whereas, According to the nonprofit organization KFF, 32.9
12 percent of Hoosier adults reported symptoms of anxiety,
13 depression, or both in 2023;
14 Whereas, Suicide is a leading cause of death among
15 adolescents aged 15 to 19 years and young adults aged 20 to 24
16 years, and there has been a stark increase in the rate of deaths
17 from drug overdose among Americans aged 25 to 64 years;
18 Whereas, Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed
19 in the United States since 1949, and its purpose is to raise
20 awareness about mental health in order to fight stigma, provide
21 support, educate the public, and advocate for policies that
22 support the millions of people in the country affected by mental
23 health conditions;
24 Whereas, Organizations like Mental Health America work to
25 close the mental health equity gap while increasing nationwide
2024 HC 1017/DI 140 2
1 awareness and understanding through public education, direct
2 services, tools, and research;
3 Whereas, Mental Health America was founded as the
4 National Committee for Mental Hygiene in 1909 by Clifford W.
5 Beers, who personally suffered from mental health conditions;
6 Whereas, Upon seeing the poor treatment of patients in the
7 private and state hospitals he was confined to as a patient, he
8 began working to reform the treatment of the mentally ill,
9 which led to the creation of the National Committee for Mental
10 Hygiene;
11 Whereas, Today, Mental Health America operates nationally
12 and in communities across the country, including the state
13 affiliate Mental Health America of Indiana and other MHA
14 community affiliates throughout the Hoosier state;
15 Whereas, Mental Health America hosts an annual conference
16 that invites members from all over the country, and MHA
17 publishes an annual State of Mental Health in America report,
18 which is among the most widely respected health reports in the
19 nation; and
20 Whereas, Through the efforts of organizations such as Mental
21 Health America, the stigma surrounding mental health
22 conditions is ending, and there are more deliberate
23 conversations being had regarding the importance of mental
24 health and mental health treatment: Therefore,
25 Be it resolved by the House of Representatives
26 of the General Assembly of the State of Indiana,
27 the Senate concurring:
28 SECTION 1. That the Indiana General Assembly recognizes
29 May as Mental Health Awareness Month and the work of
30 Mental Health America in Indiana and across the country.
31 SECTION 2. That the Principal Clerk of the House of
32 Representatives transmit copies of this resolution to State
33 Representative Christine Campbell for distribution.
2024 HC 1017/DI 140