BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  SCR 28
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 6, 2013

                             ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON RULES
                                Nancy Skinner, Chair
                    SCR 28 (Block) - As Introduced:  April 1, 2013

           SENATE VOTE  :   33-0
           
          SUBJECT  :   California Mental Health No Stigma Week.

           SUMMARY  :   Declares 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.   
          Specifically,  this resolution  makes the following legislative  
          findings:

          1)The most formidable obstacle to future progress in the area of  
            mental health is stigma; and, it is in the best interest of  
            the state to increase awareness regarding the negative stigma  
            associated with mental illness.

          2)While one in five Americans live 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.

          3)Some of the harmful effects of stigma include trying to  
            pretend nothing is wrong, refusal to seek treatment, and  
            rejection by family and friends; and, despite civil right  
            laws, such as the American with Disabilities Act of 1990,  
            people with mental illnesses often experience discrimination  
            in education, housing, health care, and the workplace.

          4)Every person needs and deserves to feel a sense of belonging,  
            and not be excluded or ostracized; and, 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.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :   None

           REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION  :

           Support 








                                                                 SCR 28
                                                                  Page  2

           
          None on file
           
            Opposition 
           
          None on file

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Nicole Willis / RLS. / (916) 319-2800