[Filed with Secretary of State May 23, 2013.]
SCR 28, Block. California Mental Health No Stigma Week.
This measure would declare May 6, 2013, to May 12, 2013, inclusive, and the first full week of May of every year thereafter, commencing with a Monday, as California Mental Health No Stigma Week.
WHEREAS, It is in the best interest of the state to increase awareness regarding the negative stigma associated with mental illness; and
WHEREAS, Stigma is a very real problem for people who have a mental illness; and
WHEREAS, Every person needs and deserves to feel a sense of belonging, and not be excluded or ostracized; and
WHEREAS, The most formidable obstacle to future progress in the area of mental health is stigma, and today, the nation has the power to tear down that obstacle; and
WHEREAS, Throughout our great state, there are efforts by public and private mental health agencies that work tirelessly to educate the public about the harmful effects of stigma; and
WHEREAS, Some of the harmful effects of stigma include trying to pretend nothing is wrong, refusal to seek treatment, rejection by family and friends, work or school problems or discrimination, difficulty finding housing, being subjected to physical violence or harassment, and inadequate health insurance coverage of mental illnesses; and
WHEREAS, Of California’s approximately 36.8 million residents, close to 1,175,000 adults live with a serious mental illness and about 422,000 children live with serious mental health conditions; and
WHEREAS, While one in five Americans lives with a mental disorder, estimates indicate that nearly two-thirds of all people with a diagnosable mental illness do not seek treatment, especially people from diverse communities; and
WHEREAS, Despite civil rights laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, people with mental illnesses often experience discrimination in education, housing, health care, and the workplace; and
WHEREAS, According to the California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission’s report of 2007, a public education campaign can improve the public’s awareness of unmet needs and reduce the harmful effects of stigma and discrimination; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes the week of May 6, 2013, to May 12, 2013, inclusive, and the first full week of May of every year thereafter, commencing with a Monday, as California Mental Health No Stigma Week; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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