HJ0095 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0095 LRB101 16033 MST 65395 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Mental health includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being; it affects how people think, feel, and act; it also affects how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices; and

WHEREAS, Mental health disorders are health conditions that are characterized by alterations in thinking, mood, or behavior, or some combination thereof, and are associated with distress or impaired functioning; and

WHEREAS, One in six U.S. youth aged six to 17 experience a mental health disorder each year; and

WHEREAS, LGBTQ youth experience mental health disorders at a significantly higher rate; and

WHEREAS, Bullying can affect one's mental health, both in the short term and later in life; and

WHEREAS, Bullying is a prevalent issue among youth ages 12 to 18 years old, with 35% and 15% of that age group reporting involvement in traditional bullying and cyberbullying, respectively; and

WHEREAS, Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 10 to 34 and the 10th leading cause of death in the United States; and

WHEREAS, The University of Illinois' 2018 Illinois Youth Survey found that 58% of 12th grade students used alcohol, tobacco, inhalants, or marijuana in the past year; and

WHEREAS, Interactions with their peers is a major component of a student's daily life; school days last for an average of 6.5 hours, and Illinois requires a minimum of 176 school attendance days each school year; therefore, students are exposed to their peers for a minimum of 1,144 hours each year; and

WHEREAS, Schools are the most effective and efficient places to teach youths to identify, understand, and respond to signs of substance use and mental health disorders in themselves and among their peers; schools can provide meaningful instruction to students on how to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge Illinois schools to provide education for all students in grades six to 12 on how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of addictions and mental illnesses, as well as provide instruction on how to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we commend the National Council for Behavioral Health and the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health for their work in developing and directing teen Mental Health First Aid training programs for schools; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we commend Amos Alonzo Stagg High School, the Paris Union School District, and Clinton High School for participating in the first nationwide pilot programs of teen Mental Health First Aid training for schools; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we commend Operation Snowball, the Human Resources Center of Edgar and Clark Counties, and the Heritage Behavioral Health Center for participating in the first nationwide teen Mental Health First Aid instructor trainings; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the National Council for Behavioral Health, the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health, Amos Alonzo Stagg High School, the Paris Union School District, Clinton High School, Operation Snowball, the Human Resources Center of Edgar and Clark Counties, and the Heritage Behavioral Health Center.