PRINTER'S NO. 1657
No. 272 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY VEON, CURRY, LEACH, GEORGE, BEBKO-JONES,
TRAVAGLIO, WILT, HARRIS, READSHAW, GRUCELA, DeWEESE,
J. EVANS, ARMSTRONG, LAUGHLIN, KOTIK, BELARDI, TIGUE,
GERGELY, TRUE, BUNT, HESS, CORRIGAN, McGEEHAN, SOLOBAY,
TANGRETTI, SCHRODER, FORCIER, GEIST, GINGRICH, SHANER,
RUFFING, THOMAS, PICKETT, COY, SANTONI, PISTELLA, CAPPELLI,
NAILOR, WHEATLEY, FABRIZIO, LEVDANSKY, FREEMAN, COSTA, MANN,
JOSEPHS, WOJNAROSKI AND WALKO, MAY 6, 2003
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MAY 6, 2003
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating the month of May 2003 as "Mental Health Month" in
2 Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, Mental health is critical to the overall health,
4 vitality and well-being of individuals, families, communities
5 and businesses; and
6 WHEREAS, Mental health problems do not discriminate and can
7 affect individuals of every race, creed, age or economic status;
8 and
9 WHEREAS, One in five American adults and one in ten American
10 young people are affected by a mental illness; and
11 WHEREAS, An estimated two-thirds of adults and young people
12 with mental health problems are not getting the help they need;
13 and
14 WHEREAS, A lack of full and proper treatment for those adults
1 with mental illness costs public and private employers billions
2 of dollars annually through absenteeism, turnover and low
3 productivity; and
4 WHEREAS, A lack of full and proper treatment for young adults
5 with mental illness can lead to failure in school, substance
6 abuse and even suicide; and
7 WHEREAS, With proper treatment and support, individuals with
8 mental illness can lead full, productive lives; and
9 WHEREAS, The Commonwealth is committed to community-based
10 systems of mental health care in which all residents can receive
11 high-quality and consumer-responsive services; and
12 WHEREAS, The National Mental Health Association, the National
13 Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare and their national
14 partners observe "Mental Health Month" every May to raise
15 awareness and understanding of mental health and illness;
16 therefore be it
17 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
18 month of May 2003 as "Mental Health Month" in Pennsylvania; and
19 be it further
20 RESOLVED, That all citizens, government agencies, public and
21 private institutions, businesses and schools be urged to
22 recommit our communities to increasing awareness and
23 understanding of mental illness and the need for appropriate and
24 accessible services for all people with mental illness.
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