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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The mental health and well-being of the citizens
3of Illinois is vital to the health of communities and families
4of the State, along with the State's economic stability; and
 
5    WHEREAS, One in four Americans will experience a mental
6illness in their lifetime, with approximately 1.5 million
7Illinois adults and more than 300,000 Illinois children
8diagnosed; and
 
9    WHEREAS, The stigma associated with mental illnesses has
10resulted in people not seeking the care they need and has
11historically allowed insurance companies to cover mental
12health benefits differently than other medical benefits; these
13practices have been accepted and perpetuated by the stigma; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Due to the stigma and a lack of access to care,
15people with serious mental illnesses often do not get the care
16they need until they are disabled by their illness; as a
17result, the public sector pays for 60% of all mental health
18care nationally; and
 
19    WHEREAS, In 2011, suicide due to the presence of a mental
20health condition was the third leading cause of death for
21children between the ages of 10 and 14, and the second leading

 

 

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1cause of death for youth and adults between the ages of 15 and
234; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Individuals with mental illnesses can and do
4recover by utilizing treatment regimens, particularly
5community-based services and supports; more than 60% of
6Illinois children and 59% of Illinois adults living with a
7mental health condition do not receive a diagnosis or treatment
8for their illness; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Effective treatment of mental illnesses continues
10to improve through advances in brain and behavioral research;
11and
 
12    WHEREAS, Data confirms that untreated mental illnesses
13significantly contribute to lost productivity and absenteeism
14in the workplace, and that limitations on mental health
15services increase employers' direct and indirect healthcare
16costs; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Limiting mental health care has resulted in
18homelessness, institutionalization, and mass incarceration of
19individuals with untreated serious mental illnesses, the costs
20of which are borne by taxpayers; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Mental illness is a leading cause of disability in

 

 

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1the United States; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Each year, the month of May is recognized as
3"Mental Health Awareness Month" in the United States;
4therefore, be it
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
6NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
7designate the month of May in 2015 as "Mental Health Awareness
8Month" in the State of Illinois.