HLS 23RS-1696 ORIGINAL
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 88
BY REPRESENTATIVE WHITE
SPECIAL DAY/WEEK/MONTH: Recognizes May 4, 2023, as Rural Mental Health Day
at the state capitol
1 A RESOLUTION
2To designate May 4, 2023, as Rural Mental Health Day at the state capitol.
3 WHEREAS, the mental health and well-being of all children, youth, adults and
4families in Louisiana are of fundamental importance; and
5 WHEREAS, mental health is essential to each person's ability to achieve his or her
6full potential, and mental health disorders can affect the ability of an individual to carry out
7daily tasks, establish or maintain relationships, or pursue other fundamental endeavors; and
8 WHEREAS, rural areas comprise roughly eighty percent of Louisiana's total
9geographic area and have a chronic shortage of mental health professionals; and
10 WHEREAS, there are approximately 179,000 adults in the state who are living with
11a serious mental illness, including bipolar disorder, severe depression, and schizophrenia,
12and one in six of Louisiana's children experience a mental health disorder each year; and
13 WHEREAS, approximately one individual dies by suicide every twelve hours in
14Louisiana; and
15 WHEREAS, the delays in treatment for mental health conditions are longer than
16many other health conditions; and
17 WHEREAS, early and effective treatment of mental health conditions is critical to
18reducing the number of individuals and families who find themselves in mental health crises
19and to promoting healing; and
20 WHEREAS, recovery from a mental illness requires access to professionals and
21rehabilitative services and involves families and caregivers as allies in recovery; and
Page 1 of 2 HLS 23RS-1696 ORIGINAL
HR NO. 88
1 WHEREAS, individuals with mental health conditions can recover and lead full,
2productive lives.
3 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
4Legislature of Louisiana does hereby recognize Thursday, May 4, 2023, as Rural Mental
5Health Day at the state capitol and hereby encourages citizens of the great state of Louisiana
6to raise awareness of mental health conditions and services and to break the stigma
7surrounding mental illness.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 88 Original 2023 Regular Session White
Designates May 4, 2023, as Rural Mental Health Day at the state capitol.
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