84R7651 BK-D
By: King of Taylor H.R. No. 529
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The observance of Mental Illness Awareness Day on
February 19, 2015, brings much-needed attention to a serious and
often misunderstood issue that affects the lives of millions of
Texans; and
WHEREAS, An estimated one in four American adults suffers
from a mental disorder in a given year, and one-fifth of young
people ages 13 to 18 experience a mental health condition that
causes severe functional impairment; the most common form of mental
illness is anxiety disorders, which are believed to affect 18
percent of the adult population; and
WHEREAS, Major depression, which affects 6.7 percent of
adults, is a leading cause of disability worldwide and is
associated with a significant risk of suicide; in the
15-to-24-year-old age group, suicide accounts for 20 percent of all
deaths annually, and over 90 percent of those who die by suicide had
one or more mental disorders; and
WHEREAS, The impact of mental illness on military veterans is
a growing cause for concern; among service members who have been
deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, one in five has been formally
diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, and experts believe
that many more could be affected because of inadequacies in
screening and diagnosis; a particularly worrying trend is the high
suicide rate of veterans relative to the general population, with
an estimated 22 committing suicide every day; and
WHEREAS, For some, the stigma associated with mental illness
can result in discrimination and bullying and take a damaging toll
on relationships with loved ones; although mentally ill individuals
are far more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators,
there is a widespread perception that persons living with mental
health conditions pose a threat to others; and
WHEREAS, In spite of its prevalence and debilitating effects,
mental illness often goes undiagnosed and untreated; roughly half
of all people experiencing homelessness have severe mental health
or substance abuse issues, and far more Texans with serious mental
illness are in jails and prisons than in hospitals; and
WHEREAS, Today, because of new discoveries in genetics,
modern brain research, and psychiatry, mental illness is no longer
the frightening mystery that it once was; advances in medical
science have revealed that serious mental disorders have a
biological basis similar to physical ailments like heart disease
and diabetes; moreover, like the heart, the human brain is a vital
organ whose illnesses can be successfully treated; and
WHEREAS, Sophisticated medicines can greatly ease the
suffering of patients with mental illness and help many return to
normal, productive, and rewarding lives; according to a 2009
report, increased mental health expenditures could also be a strong
economic stimulus, with a potential return of $23 for every $1 spent
on mental health services in Texas; and
WHEREAS, Agencies and organizations across the state and
nation are committed to improving the quality of life of persons
with mental illness by promoting treatment and prevention,
eliminating stigma, increasing housing opportunities, and
advancing smart investment in mental health services; Mental
Illness Awareness Day provides an opportunity to acknowledge the
commendable efforts of these groups to ensure that effective mental
health care is available for every Texan in need; now, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize February 19, 2015, as Mental Illness
Awareness Day at the State Capitol and encourage all Texans to learn
more about this important health matter.