HR0594 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0594 LRB100 14121 ALS 28877 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, In 1990, Congress designated the first full week in October as Mental Illness Awareness Week in recognition of the efforts by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to raise mental illness awareness; each year the movement grows stronger as people work together to fight stigma, provide support, and advocate for equal care; and

WHEREAS, The lives of millions of Americans are affected daily by mental health conditions; according to NAMI, approximately one in five adults experiences mental illness in a given year, and approximately one in five young people experience a severe mental disorder at some point during life; half of all chronic mental illness begins by age 14; three quarters begins by age 24; despite effective treatment, there are long delays, sometimes decades, between the first appearance of symptoms and when people get help; and

WHEREAS, Each mental illness has its own symptoms, and trying to tell the difference between what expected behaviors are and what might be the signs of a mental illness is not always easy; there is no easy test to diagnose mental illness; common signs in adults and adolescents can include excessive worrying or fear, extreme mood changes, changes in sleeping and eating habits, and difficulty perceiving reality; and

WHEREAS, Individuals living with serious mental illness face an increased risk of having chronic medical conditions; adults in the United States living with serious mental illness die, on average, 25 years earlier than others, largely due to treatable medical conditions; and

WHEREAS, Public policy makes a difference in the lives of both the people living with mental health conditions and the people in their lives; changes in policy can mean better outcomes; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we designate the week of October 1-7, 2017 as Mental Illness Awareness Week in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage communities throughout the State to come together and show support for the many people affected by mental illness and for those who advocate for mental health awareness.