HR0594LRB100 14121 ALS 28877 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, In 1990, Congress designated the first full week 
3in October as Mental Illness Awareness Week in recognition of 
4the efforts by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) 
5to raise mental illness awareness; each year the movement grows 
6stronger as people work together to fight stigma, provide 
7support, and advocate for equal care; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, The lives of millions of Americans are affected 
9daily by mental health conditions; according to NAMI, 
10approximately one in five adults experiences mental illness in 
11a given year, and approximately one in five young people 
12experience a severe mental disorder at some point during life; 
13half of all chronic mental illness begins by age 14; three 
14quarters begins by age 24; despite effective treatment, there 
15are long delays, sometimes decades, between the first 
16appearance of symptoms and when people get help; and
  
 
17    WHEREAS, Each mental illness has its own symptoms, and 
18trying to tell the difference between what expected behaviors 
19are and what might be the signs of a mental illness is not 
20always easy; there is no easy test to diagnose mental illness; 
21common signs in adults and adolescents can include excessive 
22worrying or fear, extreme mood changes, changes in sleeping and 
23eating habits, and difficulty perceiving reality; and
  
 
 
 
HR0594- 2 -LRB100 14121 ALS 28877 r

1    WHEREAS, Individuals living with serious mental illness 
2face an increased risk of having chronic medical conditions; 
3adults in the United States living with serious mental illness 
4die, on average, 25 years earlier than others, largely due to 
5treatable medical conditions; and
  
 
  
6    WHEREAS, Public policy makes a difference in the lives of 
7both the people living with mental health conditions and the 
8people in their lives; changes in policy can mean better 
9outcomes; therefore, be it
  
 
10    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
11HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
12designate the week of October 1-7, 2017 as Mental Illness 
13Awareness Week in the State of Illinois; and be it further
  
 
14    RESOLVED, That we encourage communities throughout the 
15State to come together and show support for the many people 
16affected by mental illness and for those who advocate for 
17mental health awareness.