SR0193 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0193 LRB104 12980 LAW 24639 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a debilitating mental disorder affecting approximately 8.2 million people in the United States, or 1 in 40 adults in their lifetime and 1 in 100 children and teenagers; and

WHEREAS, OCD is often overlooked and belittled as a personality quirk or choice, leading those with it to feel shame and isolation; and

WHEREAS, In reality, OCD is a very real disorder that does not discriminate based on race, age, gender, or background, affecting people of all ages and walks of life; and

WHEREAS, OCD can be extremely disruptive, leading those with the mental disorder to engage in obsessions, which are unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that trigger intensely distressing feelings, and compulsions, which are behaviors an individual engages in to attempt to get rid of the obsessions and/or decrease distress; and

WHEREAS, Individuals with OCD may experience obsessions and compulsions for at least an hour a day, significantly interfering with day-to-day activities and affecting their overall quality of life; and

WHEREAS, OCD can only be diagnosed by a medical professional, and most people with the mental disorder benefit from some combination of therapy and medication; and

WHEREAS, To bring awareness to this mental disorder, OCD Awareness Week is an event held worldwide to dispel myths about OCD, break the stigma around mental illness, and provide education about the disorder and how to support those affected; and

WHEREAS, Proponents of OCD Awareness Week utilize the hashtag #OCDweek and contribute to a lighting campaign where buildings, bridges, and structures across the nation light up in the color teal to celebrate the week, bringing increased recognition to the realities of OCD with each shining monument serving as a beacon of hope to those impacted and their families and support systems; and

WHEREAS, Proponents of OCD Awareness Week not only hope to eliminate misconceptions about this mental disorder but also hope to increase funding towards diagnosing and treating OCD, as it receives far less federal funding than other serious mental health disorders despite being significantly more common; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare October 12 through October 18, 2025 as OCD Awareness Week in the State of Illinois.