Bill Text: TX HR2110 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Recognizing the efforts of a coalition of students, teachers, counselors, administrators, veterans, and community advocates from the Coastal Bend of Texas in studying the issue of suicide among veterans and adolescents.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-05-27 - Reported enrolled [HR2110 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HR2110-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 2110 | ||
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| WHEREAS, Suicide is a complex and multifaceted problem, and | ||
| its increasing incidence among certain vulnerable groups, | ||
| including youth and veterans, has become an urgent health care | ||
| priority; and | ||
| WHEREAS, According to the Centers for Disease Control and | ||
| Prevention, the national suicide rate for teenagers has nearly | ||
| tripled since the 1940s; the rate in Texas is nearly double the | ||
| national average, and suicide is the second leading cause of death | ||
| among Texans aged 15 to 34; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Further compounding the problem, many schools | ||
| across the state have student-to-counselor ratios that greatly | ||
| exceed the recommendations of the Texas Model for Comprehensive | ||
| School Counseling Programs adopted by the State Board of Education; | ||
| and | ||
| WHEREAS, It is estimated that more than 20 veterans commit | ||
| suicide every day in the United States, a rate 1.5 times higher than | ||
| that of the general population; veterans compose 14 percent of all | ||
| suicide deaths, despite representing only 8 percent of the national | ||
| population; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In Texas, the suicide rate among veterans is more | ||
| than twice that of the state's overall population, and the risk is | ||
| more pronounced for those who served in recent conflicts, such as | ||
| the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; suicide among veterans aged 18-34 | ||
| rose by 10 percent between 2006 and 2016, translating to 45 deaths | ||
| for every 100,000 veterans, the largest increase for any age group; | ||
| and | ||
| WHEREAS, Many factors impact veterans' mental health and | ||
| well-being, including family and employment issues and the | ||
| challenge of reintegrating into civilian society; those men and | ||
| women who have served our country are in dire need of services to | ||
| assist with life transitions and the stresses that can arise from | ||
| them; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mental health care for veterans is an area of | ||
| particular need in our state, and a 2015 report by The University of | ||
| Texas outlined the benefits of providing coordinated mental health | ||
| services for Texas veterans; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In the Coastal Bend of Texas, students, teachers, | ||
| counselors, administrators, veterans, and community advocates have | ||
| joined together to study the causes and effects of suicide among | ||
| veterans and adolescents in the state; the coalition conducted two | ||
| public forums in the spring of 2019 to focus attention on these | ||
| issues, and the discussions have resulted in recommendations | ||
| brought forth for consideration during the 86th Texas Legislature; | ||
| now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby recognize the participants in the Coastal Bend | ||
| forums for their efforts to address the tragic problem of suicide in | ||
| the state and extend sincere appreciation to these caring | ||
| individuals. | ||
| Hunter | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 2110 was adopted by the House on May | ||
| 24, 2019, by a non-record vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
