BILL NUMBER: SCR 97	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	ADOPTED IN SENATE  JUNE 28, 2010
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 2, 2010
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 2, 2010

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Yee
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Adams, Ammiano, Arambula, Bass,
Beall, Bill Berryhill, Blakeslee, Block, Blumenfield, Bradford,
Brownley, Buchanan, Caballero, Charles Calderon, Carter, Chesbro,
Conway, Cook, Coto, Davis, De Leon, DeVore, Emmerson, Eng, Evans,
Feuer, Fletcher, Fong, Fuentes, Furutani, Gaines, Galgiani, Gilmore,
Hagman, Hall, Harkey, Hayashi, Hernandez, Hill, Huber, Huffman,
Jeffries, Jones, Logue, Bonnie Lowenthal, Ma, Mendoza, Monning, Nava,
Nestande, Nielsen, John A. Perez, V. Manuel Perez, Portantino,
Ruskin, Salas, Saldana, Silva, Skinner, Smyth, Solorio, Swanson,
Torlakson, Torres, Torrico, Tran, Villines, and Yamada)

                        APRIL 7, 2010

   Relative to Asian Pacific American Mental Health Day.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 97, Yee. Asian Pacific American Mental Health Day.
   This measure would recognize May 10, 2010, and each May 10
thereafter, as Asian Pacific American Mental Health Day, and
acknowledge the importance of raising awareness about mental health
in the Asian Pacific American community.



   WHEREAS, The Asian Pacific American community is among the fastest
growing and most diverse racial groups in the United States. Asian
Pacific Americans have made remarkable economic, political, and
social contributions, and are the majority in eight California cities
and the second largest group in four California counties; and
   WHEREAS, Approximately 25 percent of Americans experience and are
diagnosed with a mental health condition in a given year, impacting
all communities regardless of race, ethnicity, age, socioeconomic
status, and gender; and
   WHEREAS, There is a critical need to raise awareness about and
advocate for health care policies that increase the accessibility of
mental health care services; and
   WHEREAS, In this country there is a critical need to raise
awareness about mental health, particularly within the Asian Pacific
American community, to destigmatize seeking help, and to gain access
to culturally competent community services; and
   WHEREAS, Asian Pacific Americans use mental health services at the
lowest rates among ethnic populations. This may be due to the
substantial stigma that exists among Asian Pacific Americans, as well
as cultural and linguistic isolation of the community, family, and
individual; and
   WHEREAS, There is an extreme lack of research regarding Asian
Pacific Americans and mental health issues. A combination of
psychosocial and pharmacological treatments and supports prove to be
highly effective with 70 percent to 90 percent, inclusive, of
individuals with mental health issues having significant reduction of
symptoms and improved quality of life; and
   WHEREAS, Raising awareness about mental health in the Asian
Pacific American community encourages professional interest in health
and human services careers, fostering a diversified workforce that
reflects the community; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes May 10, 2010, and
each May 10 thereafter, as Asian Pacific American Mental Health Day,
and acknowledges the importance of raising awareness about mental
health in the Asian Pacific American community; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.