Proclaiming May 1 to 7, 2023, as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week in Wisconsin.
The passing of SJR36 aims to educate both the community and healthcare professionals about the symptoms and impacts of Tardive Dyskinesia. This resolution is particularly timely as it coincides with increased recognition of the effects of mental health medications. By officially designating a week for TD awareness, the Wisconsin legislature hopes to spur conversations around early detection and the importance of monitoring patients who are on DRBAs for symptoms of TD, which can have profound physical, social, and emotional ramifications.
Senate Joint Resolution 36 (SJR36), introduced on May 2, 2023, by Senators Cabral-Guevara and Felzkowski, is a resolution seeking to proclaim May 1 to 7, 2023, as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week in Wisconsin. The resolution emphasizes the need to increase public and medical community awareness of Tardive Dyskinesia (TD), a condition that can arise from prolonged use of medications that work as dopamine receptor blocking agents (DRBAs), commonly prescribed for serious mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. It highlights that approximately 600,000 people in the U.S. may be affected by TD, with a significant percentage remaining undiagnosed.
While the resolution serves primarily as an awareness-generating initiative rather than a binding legislation, it acknowledges significant clinical research that has emerged, identifying effective treatments for TD that have gained FDA approval. There may be varied opinions among stakeholders regarding the extent of attention TD deserves in public health discussions, particularly when juxtaposed with other conditions and potential legislative measures for mental health. Nonetheless, the resolution aims to foster a supportive environment where affected individuals without adequate diagnosis can be recognized and treated effectively.