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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 468
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WHEREAS, Mental health is essential to the overall health |
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and well-being of every individual, and the observance of |
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National Mental Health Awareness Month in May provides an |
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opportunity to highlight the need for greater empathy and support |
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for Texans 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 |
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more than 4.7 million adults in Texas, lives with a mental |
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illness; these conditions affect people of all ages, races, |
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ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds, and though they are |
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common and treatable, the stigma associated with them can be an |
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obstacle to 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 |
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suicide and crisis line call centers in 2023, underscoring the |
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need for sustained investment in accessible mental health |
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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 |
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half a million adolescents in Texas experience a major depressive |
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episode, and more than 300,000 have thoughts of suicide; over |
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18 percent of youth in our state have endured multiple adverse |
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childhood experiences, which increase the risk of mental |
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illnesses and substance use disorders in adulthood; despite the |
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urgent need for mental health care among young people, the |
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average public school in Texas provides just one school |
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psychologist for every 2,300 students, a ratio that falls short |
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of the recommendation of 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 |
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our mental health care system to be effective, it must emphasize |
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early 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 |
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the progress made by those living with mental health conditions, |
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and it is fitting to acknowledge the vital work being done by |
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community organizations, peer advocates, families, |
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professionals, and policymakers across the state to advance |
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these worthy goals; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th |
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Legislature, hereby recognize May 2025 as Mental Health |
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Awareness Month and encourage all Texans to join in supporting |
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mental health services, education, and outreach in their |
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communities. |
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Sparks |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on May 1, 2025. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |