BILL ANALYSIS �
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THIRD READING
Bill No: ACR 163
Author: Ridley-Thomas (D), et al.
Amended: 7/3/14 in Assembly
Vote: 21
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : Read and adopted, 7/3/14
SUBJECT : Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health
Awareness Month
SOURCE : Nami California
DIGEST : This resolution proclaims July 2014 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 victimizing both persons with the illness and those
persons who care for and love the persons afflicted.
2.According to the 1999 Surgeon General's Report on Mental
Illness, adult Caucasians who suffer from depression or an
anxiety disorder are more likely to receive treatment than
adult African Americans with the same disorders even though
the disorders occur in both groups at about the same rate,
when taking into account socioeconomic factors.
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3.The three major brain diseases, schizophrenia, bipolar
disorder, and depression, adversely affect the economy,
contribute to the rise in incarceration rates, and erode the
quality of life for patients and their loved ones.
4.Communities of color are in need of culturally competent
mental health resources and the training of all health care
providers to serve multiethnic patients and advocates for
traditional mental health organizations must be encouraged to
incorporate and integrate minority mental health education and
outreach within their respective portfolios.
5.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.
6.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.
7.African Americans are misdiagnosed at a higher rate than
persons of other ethnic groups within the mental health
delivery system, and greater effort must be made to accurately
assess the mental health of African Americans.
8.There is a need to encourage primary care physicians to offer
screenings, to partner with mental health care providers, to
seek the appropriate referrals to specialists, and to
encourage timely and accurate diagnoses of mental disorders.
9.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.
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10.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 proclaims July 2014 as Bebe Moore Campbell
National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month to enhance
public awareness of mental illness among minorities.
FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 8/6/14)
Nami California (source)
JL:e 8/6/14 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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