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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Mental health is essential to the overall health and |
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well-being of every individual, and the observance of National |
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Mental Health Awareness Month in May provides an opportunity to |
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highlight the need for greater empathy and support for Texans |
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experiencing mental health issues; and |
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WHEREAS, According to the National Alliance on Mental |
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Illness, approximately one in every five Americans, including more |
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than 4.7 million adults in Texas, lives with a mental illness; these |
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conditions affect people of all ages, races, ethnicities, and |
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socioeconomic backgrounds, and though they are common and |
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treatable, the stigma associated with them can be an obstacle to |
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treatment, recovery, and social acceptance; and |
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WHEREAS, Cost is another hurdle to receiving effective |
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treatment, and over one million Texans report being unable to |
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access the care that they need for a serious mental illness; in |
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addition, there is a significant demand for crisis support in |
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Texas, as evidenced by the more than 177,000 calls made to suicide |
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and crisis line call centers in 2023, underscoring the need for |
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sustained investment in accessible mental health services; and |
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WHEREAS, Mental illnesses often begin early in life, with |
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around half of cases developing by age 14; every year, close to half |
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a million adolescents in Texas experience a major depressive |
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episode, and more than 300,000 have thoughts of suicide; over 18 |
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percent of youth in our state have endured multiple adverse |
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childhood experiences, which increase the risk of mental illnesses |
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and substance use disorders in adulthood; despite the urgent need |
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for mental health care among young people, the average public |
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school in Texas provides just one school psychologist for every |
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2,300 students, a ratio that falls short of the recommendation of |
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one per 500 students; and |
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WHEREAS, Promoting awareness and understanding of mental |
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health needs can help ensure that individuals receive the support |
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and treatment necessary to lead healthy, productive lives; for our |
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mental health care system to be effective, it must emphasize early |
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intervention, prevention, education, and access to quality |
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behavioral health services; and |
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WHEREAS, Mental Health Awareness Month serves as a means of |
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educating the public about this critical issue and celebrating the |
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progress made by those living with mental health conditions, and it |
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is fitting to acknowledge the vital work being done by community |
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organizations, peer advocates, families, professionals, and |
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policymakers across the state to advance these worthy goals; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize May 2025 as Mental Health Awareness |
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Month and encourage all Texans to join in supporting mental health |
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services, education, and outreach in their communities. |
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Hinojosa |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 893 was adopted by the House on May 1, |
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2025, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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