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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and this |
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occasion provides a fitting opportunity to promote better |
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understanding of issues regarding mental health and to foster |
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support for individuals who are affected by mental illness; and |
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WHEREAS, Mental illness encompasses a range of health |
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conditions that influence a person's thoughts, feelings, behavior, |
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and mood; these conditions include depression, psychosis, and |
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various disorders, all of which have the potential to profoundly |
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impact an individual's life and relationships; research suggests |
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that mental illness is associated with multiple causes, including |
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genetics, environmental factors, exposure to traumatic events, and |
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biochemical processes; and |
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WHEREAS, According to the National Alliance on Mental |
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Illness, more than 50 million U.S. adults experienced mental |
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illness in 2019, while recent annual statistics on children and |
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adolescents indicate that more than 7 million experienced a mental |
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health disorder; although early treatment can significantly |
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improve wellness and recovery outcomes, many people do not seek out |
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the help they need due to the stigma associated with mental illness, |
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as well as an inability to recognize symptoms and a lack of |
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knowledge about health care resources; depending on each patient's |
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unique experience, treatment may include medication, therapy, |
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social support, and educational programs; and |
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WHEREAS, More work remains to be done to fight the stigma |
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surrounding mental illness and to highlight the importance of |
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treatment, and the observance of Mental Health Awareness Month |
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unites Texans in their commitment to these efforts; now, therefore, |
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be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize May 2021 as Mental Health Awareness |
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Month and encourage all residents of the Lone Star State to learn |
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more about mental health issues. |