SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 190
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 Senate of the State of Texas, 84th
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.
Campbell
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on February 18, 2015.
________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate