HR0478LRB099 12273 GRL 35254 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Mental health is a state of well-being in which
3the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with
4the normal stresses of life, can work productively and
5fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her
6community; and
 
7    WHEREAS, There is a stigma around mental health issues that
8can often prevent informed conversations on mental health
9issues as well as proper treatment from taking place; removing
10the stigma surrounding mental health issues will allow those
11suffering with mental health issues to more easily seek
12treatment and gain an understanding of their condition; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Mental illnesses are health conditions that are
14characterized by alterations in thinking, mood, or behavior, or
15some combination thereof, associated with distress or impaired
16functioning; behavioral health is defined as the behaviors and
17biology relating to a person's mental well-being, ability to
18function in everyday life, and concept of self; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Mental illnesses take on a wide variety of forms,
20including, but not limited to, mood disorders such as
21depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, dementias, and
22eating disorders, which can be associated with learning

 

 

HR0478- 2 -LRB099 12273 GRL 35254 r

1disabilities; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Learning disabilities are neurologically based
3mental processing disabilities that can give rise to
4difficulties in acquiring knowledge and skills; learning
5disabilities include, but are not limited to, autism, dyslexia,
6visual processing disorders, auditory processing disorders,
7ADHD, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and dyspraxia; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Children with learning disabilities are
9disproportionately affected by mental health issues; 36% of
10children with a learning disability will also develop mental
11health issues; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Mental health is essential to one's overall health
13and well-being, and mental health issues can strike a person
14regardless of his or her age, gender, race, ethnicity,
15religion, or economic status; and
 
16    WHEREAS, There is a lack of awareness of how to treat
17mental health issues and of resources available for that
18purpose; there is also a crisis of unaddressed mental health
19issues in the United States and the State of Illinois; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Those suffering from a mental illness and their
21loved ones often do not understand how to identify the symptoms

 

 

HR0478- 3 -LRB099 12273 GRL 35254 r

1and warning signs; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Untreated mental health issues lead to lost
3potential and numerous societal problems, such as increased
4incarceration rates, substance abuse rates, and emergency room
5visits; and
 
6    WHEREAS, According to the National Institute of Mental
7Health, there are an estimated 43.7 million adults with a
8mental disorder, or 18.6% of the total adult population in the
9United States; just over 20% of American children, either
10currently or at some point during their life, have or will have
11a seriously debilitating mental disorder; and
 
12    WHEREAS, The National Survey on Drug Use and Health found
13that only 58.7% of adults in the United States with a serious
14mental illness received treatment for a mental health problem;
15and
 
16    WHEREAS, The National Health and Nutrition Examination
17Survey found that only 50.6% of children with mental disorders
18had received treatment for their disorder within the past year;
19and
 
20    WHEREAS, With proper treatment, many mental health
21problems can dissipate or be reduced to a level where the

 

 

HR0478- 4 -LRB099 12273 GRL 35254 r

1person can fully function; and
 
2    WHEREAS, According to the National Alliance on Mental
3Illness, successful treatment rates for mental illness are
4extremely high and range from between 60% to 80%; the
5successful treatment rate for schizophrenia is roughly 60%,
6while depression is 70% and bipolar disorder is 80%; and
 
7    WHEREAS, People with mental illness who are in treatment
8can lead full, productive lives in their communities; and
 
9    WHEREAS, The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that 89.3
10million Americans live in federally designated Mental Health
11Professional Shortage areas, where there is little to no access
12to mental health professionals; and
 
13    WHEREAS, A Journal of Psychiatric Services survey found
14that 47% of people untreated for mental health issues reported
15cost as a reason not to seek treatment; the same survey also
16found that 66% of untreated mental health patients did not go
17to a doctor because they thought the problem would get better
18on its own; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Six of 12 City of Chicago public mental health
20clinics were closed in 2012; and
 

 

 

HR0478- 5 -LRB099 12273 GRL 35254 r

1    WHEREAS, A total of 64.2% of inmates in local jails
2satisfied the criteria for a mental health problem currently or
3in the previous year; and
 
4    WHEREAS, The United States Department of Justice's Survey
5of Inmates in State and Federal Correctional Facilities found
6that fewer than half of inmates with a mental health problem
7have ever received treatment and only one-third received mental
8health treatment after admission; and
 
9    WHEREAS, The National Alliance on Mental Illness found that
10states collectively cut $1.8 billion from their mental health
11budgets during the recession; the organization also found that,
12from 2009 to 2012, Illinois cut mental health funding by $187
13million, a 31.7% reduction; Illinois cut the fourth most of any
14state during this time period; and
 
15    WHEREAS, The Affordable Care Act makes behavioral and
16mental health treatment available to people throughout the
17country, especially those who could not previously afford
18treatment; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Mental health issues influence all branches of
20State government, including public health, children and family
21services, criminal justice, housing, employment, and other
22services; and
 

 

 

HR0478- 6 -LRB099 12273 GRL 35254 r

1    WHEREAS, It should be a fundamental goal of the State of
2Illinois to ensure proper awareness, identification, and
3treatment for mental health issues; therefore, be it
 
4    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
5NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
6acknowledge the seriousness of mental health issues in Illinois
7and strive to improve awareness and treatment of these issues;
8and be it further
 
9    RESOLVED, That we urge the members of the General Assembly
10to have discussions and forums with their communities to
11promote awareness of mental health issues and access to mental
12health resources; and be it further
 
13    RESOLVED, That we encourage the members of the General
14Assembly and all school districts in Illinois to post
15information on mental health issues and local treatment
16resources on their public websites; and be it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That we encourage all school districts in
18Illinois to implement mental health screenings to properly
19identify students with mental health problems; and be it
20further
 

 

 

HR0478- 7 -LRB099 12273 GRL 35254 r

1    RESOLVED, That we encourage the federal government to
2improve mental health awareness, treatment, and funding to
3improve the lives of citizens struggling with mental health
4issues; and be it further
 
5    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
6delivered to President Barack Obama, the United States House of
7Representatives, and the United States Senate to review and
8discuss at the national level.