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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | May 12, 2021 10:54 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Elder A. Vogel, Jr. |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | DESIGNATING MAY 2021 AS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH |
| DESIGNATING MAY 2021 AS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH Mental illness is neither fickle nor discriminatory as to your age, sex, social class, race, religion, or ethnicity. The overall suicide rate in the United States has increased 35% since 1999; further, it’s the 2nd leading cause of death among those 10-34 years-old and the 10th leading cause of death overall in the United States. Mental health may not be an inherently comfortable topic of conversation for many individuals; but with 50% of all lifetime mental illness beginning by age 14, and 75% by age 24, dialogue and honesty about this needs to become more commonplace. Annually? Mental illness affects: 14% of Asian adults 17% of Black adults 17% of Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander adults 18% of Hispanic/Latinx adults 19% of Indigenous adults 32% of multiracial adults 44% of LGBTQ adults If you personally, do not identify with any of these groups, I would venture to say you know at least one person that does. Speaking freely and encouraging productive conversations takes a deliberate step toward fostering a community that welcomes learning about mental well-being and how we can shift both our perspective and approach to mental health and mental illness. Talking about mental health doesn’t have to be awkward, it doesn’t have to uncomfortable or judgmental. It should be open, honest, and supportive. As leaders of our community, I ask you to join me in co-sponsoring this resolution designating the month of May 2021 as Mental Health Awareness Month; reminding everyone, the stigma surrounding mental health is unjustified and you are not alone. |
Introduced as SR121