Bill Text: TX HCR84 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Commending mental health professionals on the occasion of National Mental Health Month.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Vetoed) 2015-05-18 - Vetoed by the Governor [HCR84 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HCR84-Introduced.html
Bill Title: Commending mental health professionals on the occasion of National Mental Health Month.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Vetoed) 2015-05-18 - Vetoed by the Governor [HCR84 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HCR84-Introduced.html
84R11719 KMW-D | ||
By: Clardy | H.C.R. No. 84 |
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WHEREAS, National Mental Health Month is observed each May to | ||
raise awareness about mental illness and related issues in the | ||
United States; and | ||
WHEREAS, Good mental health is essential to one's overall | ||
health and well-being, but each year one in five adults, of any age, | ||
gender, race, ethnicity, religion, and economic status, face mental | ||
health issues; and | ||
WHEREAS, Studies have shown that about a third of all people | ||
experiencing mental illnesses and about half of the people living | ||
with severe mental illnesses also confront or battle against | ||
substance abuse, and about a third of all alcohol abusers and more | ||
than half of all drug abusers report experiencing a mental illness; | ||
and | ||
WHEREAS, People with mental illness can achieve recovery and | ||
wellness when appropriate mental health services and support are | ||
available; cognitive behavioral therapy is particularly effective | ||
in helping people with dual diagnoses learn to cope and to change | ||
ineffective patterns of thinking, and involving families through | ||
psychoeducation is an important component of successful mental | ||
health and substance abuse treatment; also, publication of a | ||
diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders has vastly | ||
increased innovation in psychiatric treatment and clarified | ||
diagnosis in a wide range of practice settings, and current | ||
treatment is now more objective, consistent, and effective than | ||
treatment in the past; and | ||
WHEREAS, Recovery does not happen in isolation, however; it | ||
requires a sufficient number of licensed health care providers, | ||
including psychologists, marriage and family therapists, licensed | ||
professional counselors, social workers, and psychiatrists, who | ||
use their training and clinical skills to diagnose and treat | ||
patients; and | ||
WHEREAS, "The Mental Health Workforce Shortage in Texas" | ||
report identifies the lack of mental health professionals and | ||
primary care practitioners in rural communities, and this shortage | ||
results in greater difficulty in developing the multidisciplinary, | ||
integrated service that would be optimal for people with comorbid | ||
conditions; and | ||
WHEREAS, As of March 2009, 173 out of 254 Texas counties and | ||
two partial counties were designated as Health Profession Shortage | ||
Areas for mental health; state agencies and community health care | ||
organizations report extensive problems in recruiting and training | ||
psychologists, marriage and family therapists, licensed | ||
professional counselors, social workers, and psychiatrists, and it | ||
is estimated that only 39 percent of persons with mental illness and | ||
11 percent of persons with substance abuse issues receive needed | ||
treatment; and | ||
WHEREAS, The economic value of providing appropriate and | ||
timely access to mental health services can be measured beyond | ||
individual patient benefits to include cost savings to state and | ||
local hospitals and reduced expenditures by state agencies and | ||
programs, including the criminal and juvenile justice systems, | ||
children and family services, housing, and employment; and | ||
WHEREAS, Increased funding has been provided, but even with | ||
these new funds, challenges remain to keep up with demand, to ensure | ||
that the delivery system is strong, and to better integrate | ||
behavioral health into the traditional health care system; | ||
professional oversight, training, and clinical experience all are | ||
essential to the effectiveness of mental health licensees, and | ||
their success is crucial to meeting the ongoing challenges facing | ||
the efficient delivery of quality mental health services; now, | ||
therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas | ||
hereby commend mental health professionals for their invaluable | ||
contributions to the citizens of this state and extend to them | ||
sincere best wishes for success with their important work. |