1Designating the month of May 2014 as "Mental Health Awareness
2Month" in Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, Mental health is critical to the overall health and
4well-being of individuals, families, communities and businesses;
5and

6WHEREAS, Mental health problems can affect individuals of any
7race, religion, age or economic status; and

8WHEREAS, The Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health
9Services Administration reports that in 2012, an estimated 43.7
10million adults 18 years of age or older in the United States had
11a mental illness; and

12WHEREAS, Mental illnesses are serious medical illnesses that
13cannot be overcome through willpower and are not related to a

1person's character or intelligence; and

2WHEREAS, People with a mental illness have the same needs and
3are guaranteed the same rights as all Americans, but they
4experience discrimination in education, employment and housing;
5and

6WHEREAS, Mental illnesses usually strike individuals in the
7prime of their lives, often during adolescence and young
8adulthood; and

9WHEREAS, The Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health
10Services Administration reports that in 2012, 3.1 million youths
1112 to 17 years of age received treatment or counseling for
12problems with emotions or behavior in a specialty mental health
13setting; and

14WHEREAS, A lack of full and proper treatment for individuals
15with a mental illness costs public and private employers
16billions of dollars annually through absenteeism, turnover and
17low productivity; and

18WHEREAS, With proper treatment and support, individuals with
19a mental illness can lead full, productive lives; and

20WHEREAS, Early identification and treatment of a mental
21illness, as well as ensuring access to treatment and recovery
22supports, which are proven effective, are vitally important;
23therefore be it

24RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
25month of May 2014 as "Mental Health Awareness Month" in
26Pennsylvania; and be it further

27RESOLVED, That all citizens, government agencies, public and
28private institutions, businesses and schools be urged to
29recommit our communities to increasing awareness and
30understanding of mental illnesses and the need for appropriate

1and accessible services for all people with a mental illness.