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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The observance of Mental Illness Awareness Day on |
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February 19, 2015, brings much-needed attention to a serious and |
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often misunderstood issue that affects the lives of millions of |
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Texans; and |
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WHEREAS, An estimated one in four American adults suffers |
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from a mental disorder in a given year, and one-fifth of young |
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people ages 13 to 18 experience a mental health condition that |
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causes severe functional impairment; the most common form of mental |
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illness is anxiety disorders, which are believed to affect 18 |
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percent of the adult population; and |
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WHEREAS, Major depression, which affects 6.7 percent of |
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adults, is a leading cause of disability worldwide and is |
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associated with a significant risk of suicide; in the |
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15-to-24-year-old age group, suicide accounts for 20 percent of all |
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deaths annually, and over 90 percent of those who die by suicide had |
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one or more mental disorders; and |
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WHEREAS, The impact of mental illness on military veterans is |
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a growing cause for concern; among service members who have been |
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deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, one in five has been formally |
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diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, and experts believe |
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that many more could be affected because of inadequacies in |
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screening and diagnosis; a particularly worrying trend is the high |
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suicide rate of veterans relative to the general population, with |
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an estimated 22 committing suicide every day; and |
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WHEREAS, For some, the stigma associated with mental illness |
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can result in discrimination and bullying and take a damaging toll |
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on relationships with loved ones; although mentally ill individuals |
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are far more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators, |
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there is a widespread perception that persons living with mental |
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health conditions pose a threat to others; and |
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WHEREAS, In spite of its prevalence and debilitating effects, |
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mental illness often goes undiagnosed and untreated; roughly half |
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of all people experiencing homelessness have severe mental health |
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or substance abuse issues, and far more Texans with serious mental |
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illness are in jails and prisons than in hospitals; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, because of new discoveries in genetics, |
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modern brain research, and psychiatry, mental illness is no longer |
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the frightening mystery that it once was; advances in medical |
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science have revealed that serious mental disorders have a |
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biological basis similar to physical ailments like heart disease |
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and diabetes; moreover, like the heart, the human brain is a vital |
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organ whose illnesses can be successfully treated; and |
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WHEREAS, Sophisticated medicines can greatly ease the |
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suffering of patients with mental illness and help many return to |
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normal, productive, and rewarding lives; according to a 2009 |
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report, increased mental health expenditures could also be a strong |
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economic stimulus, with a potential return of $23 for every $1 spent |
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on mental health services in Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, Agencies and organizations across the state and |
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nation are committed to improving the quality of life of persons |
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with mental illness by promoting treatment and prevention, |
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eliminating stigma, increasing housing opportunities, and |
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advancing smart investment in mental health services; Mental |
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Illness Awareness Day provides an opportunity to acknowledge the |
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commendable efforts of these groups to ensure that effective mental |
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health care is available for every Texan in need; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize February 19, 2015, as Mental Illness |
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Awareness Day at the State Capitol and encourage all Texans to learn |
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more about this important health matter. |
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King of Taylor |
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Burkett |
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Naishtat |
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Coleman |
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Anderson of Dallas |
Herrero |
Phelan |
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Anderson of McLennan |
Howard |
Phillips |
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Bonnen of Brazoria |
Johnson |
Riddle |
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Bonnen of Galveston |
Kacal |
Rinaldi |
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Burkett |
Keffer |
Rodriguez of Bexar |
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Burns |
Keough |
Rodriguez of Travis |
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Burrows |
King of Hemphill |
Romero, Jr. |
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Button |
King of Parker |
Rose |
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Canales |
King of Taylor |
Sanford |
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Capriglione |
King of Uvalde |
Schaefer |
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Craddick |
Landgraf |
Simmons |
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Davis of Dallas |
Longoria |
Spitzer |
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Davis of Harris |
Lozano |
Springer |
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Deshotel |
Lucio III |
Stephenson |
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Dutton |
Martinez |
Thompson of Brazoria |
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Elkins |
Martinez Fischer |
Thompson of Harris |
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Faircloth |
McClendon |
Tinderholt |
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Fallon |
Menéndez |
Turner of Collin |
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Farias |
Metcalf |
Turner of Harris |
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Farney |
Meyer |
Turner of Tarrant |
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Fletcher |
Miller of Comal |
Villalba |
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Flynn |
Miller of Fort Bend |
Vo |
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Frullo |
Morrison |
White of Bell |
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Galindo |
Muñoz, Jr. |
White of Tyler |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 529 was adopted by the House on February |
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19, 2015, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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