Bill Text: TX HR529 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Enrolled

---

Bill Title: Recognizing February 19, 2015, as Mental Illness Awareness Day.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2015-02-25 - Reported enrolled [HR529 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HR529-Enrolled.html

---

H.R. No. 529

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