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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) is a public |
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education course designed to teach youth in grades 10 through 12 how |
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to respond when one of their peers is experiencing mental or |
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emotional health issues; and |
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WHEREAS, The development of the course was based on the |
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finding that teenagers in crisis are more likely to turn to their |
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peers for help; led by adult instructors, the 270-minute course |
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informs participants about different types of mental health |
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challenges and crisis situations and provides them with an action |
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plan in case someone they know needs support; Teen Mental Health |
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First Aid was adapted from the Mental Health First Aid program, a |
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training initiative funded by Texas Health and Human Services; and |
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WHEREAS, Instead of focusing on specific illnesses, |
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participants in the course are taught to identify patterns of |
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thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are associated with mental |
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health challenges; teens are also encouraged to seek the assistance |
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of a trusted adult when necessary; according to a study conducted by |
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Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, after |
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completing the course, 35 percent more teenagers reported feeling |
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comfortable asking a friend if they are thinking about suicide and |
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taking action to help a friend in need; and |
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WHEREAS, Knowing how to reach out to someone in crisis can be |
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difficult, but it can make all the difference in that person's life, |
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and the Teen Mental Health First Aid program has earned |
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well-deserved praise for offering effective, evidence-based |
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solutions to an issue of urgent concern; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize the Teen Mental Health First Aid |
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program and commend all those involved with this important |
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initiative for their efforts; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the program as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |