BILL ANALYSIS Ó
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SCR 119|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | |
|327-4478 | |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
THIRD READING
Bill No: SCR 119
Author: Hertzberg (D) and Mitchell (D)
Introduced:3/16/16
Vote: 21
SUBJECT: Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health
Awareness Month
SOURCE: National Alliance on Mental Illness
DIGEST: This resolution recognizes the month of July 2016 as Bebe
Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
in California.
ANALYSIS: This resolution makes the following legislative
findings:
1)Mental illness is one of the leading causes of disabilities in
the United States, affecting one out of every four families
and impacting both persons with the illness and those persons
who care for and love the persons afflicted. Fifty-seven
million Americans have a mental disorder in any given year,
with fewer than 40 percent of adults living with a mental
illness, and a little more than one-half of youth 8 to 15
years of age, inclusive, with a mental illness receiving
mental health services in the last year.
2)African Americans and Hispanic Americans used mental health
services at about one-half the rate of Caucasians in the past
year, and Asian Americans used mental health services at about
one-third the rate of Caucasians.
3)Nearly two-thirds of all people with a diagnosable mental
SCR 119
Page 2
illness do not receive mental health treatment due to stigma,
cost, lack of community-based resources, inadequate diagnosis,
or no diagnosis. Communities of color are in need of
culturally competent mental health resources and the training
of all health care providers to serve multiethnic patients.
4)Minority mental health patients are often among the so-called
"working poor" who face additional challenges because they are
underinsured or uninsured, which often leads to late diagnosis
or no diagnosis of mental illness.
5)Mental health providers and advocates must be encouraged to
incorporate and integrate minority mental health education and
outreach within their respective programs, including the use
of peer support.
6)There is a need to improve public awareness of mental illness
and to strengthen local and national awareness of brain
diseases in order to assist with advocacy for persons of color
with mental illness, so that they may receive adequate and
appropriate treatment that will result in their becoming fully
functioning members of society.
7)The late Bebe Moore Campbell, a mother, grandmother, wife,
friend, advocate, celebrated writer and journalist, radio
commentator, community activist, cofounder of the National
Alliance on Mental Illness Urban Los Angeles, University of
Pittsburgh trustee and educator, and recipient of numerous
awards and honors, was recognized for her tireless advocacy
and fight to bring awareness and attention to mental illness
among minorities with the release of her New York Times
best-selling novel, "72 Hour Hold," and her children's book,
"Sometimes My Mommy Gets Angry," both of which bring awareness
to the plight of those with brain disorders. Bebe Moore
Campbell, through her dedication and commitment, sought to
move communities to support mental wellness through effective
treatment options, to provide open access to mental health
treatment and services, and to improve community outreach and
support for the many loved ones who are unable to speak for
themselves.
This resolution recognizes the month of July 2016 as Bebe Moore
SCR 119
Page 3
Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in
California to enhance public awareness of mental illness among
minorities.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal
Com.:NoLocal: No
SUPPORT: (Verified3/29/16)
National Alliance on Mental Illness (source)
OPPOSITION: (Verified3/29/16)
None received
Prepared by: Jonas Austin / SFA / (916) 651-1520
3/30/16 15:39:20
**** END ****