Bill Text: CA ACR187 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Schizophrenia Awareness Day.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-05-20 - From committee: Be adopted. Ordered to Third Reading. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (May 20). [ACR187 Detail]
Download: California-2023-ACR187-Introduced.html
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Concurrent Resolution
No. 187
| Introduced by Assembly Member Chen |
April 30, 2024 |
Relative to Schizophrenia Awareness Day.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 187, as introduced, Chen.
Schizophrenia Awareness Day.
This measure would proclaim May 24, 2024, as Schizophrenia Awareness Day.
Digest Key
Fiscal Committee: NOBill Text
WHEREAS, Schizophrenia is a serious mental health condition and one of the top 15 leading causes of disability worldwide; and
WHEREAS, Schizophrenia is characterized by persistent psychotic symptoms such as auditory hallucinations, visual hallucinations, delusional thinking, dissociation from reality, and disorganized thoughts and behavior; and
WHEREAS, Schizophrenia symptoms typically emerge in adolescence or early adulthood and can be persistent and disabling when left untreated, interfering with a person’s ability to engage in typical school, work, and social activities; and
WHEREAS, Schizophrenia affects about 24,000,000 people in the world and about 330,000 people in California, the highest number of affected individuals of any state in the country; and
WHEREAS, The life expectancy of people living with schizophrenia is reduced by 10 to 20 years compared with the general population, often due to multiple chronic health conditions, as well as the fact that approximately 5 percent of people living with schizophrenia die by suicide, a rate that is far greater than that of the general population; and
WHEREAS, The standard of care for mental health condition treatment has been largely unchanged for over 60 years and many individuals continue to suffer from unmet needs as a result of a significant lack of treatment innovation for severe and disabling mental health conditions. The development of first-episode psychosis treatment protocols is one promising exception; and
WHEREAS, Because of the limited advancements in serious mental health condition treatments, people living with serious and disabling mental health conditions such as schizophrenia need access to new and vital medications, therapeutic treatments, and recovery support services that could enable individuals to live better, more fulfilled lives; and
WHEREAS, The Legislature believes in the importance of increasing awareness of mental health conditions that, absent early and effective intervention, are often severely debilitating, impacting the person, their families, and their loved ones; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby proclaims May 24, 2024, as Schizophrenia Awareness Day in the State of California; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
