2010-10

In Support of Driving Mental Health Awareness in the State Governments

Representative Mario Goico (KS)

Short Title:Mental health and state governments
WHEREAS, mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and well-being; and

WHEREAS, mental health problems will strike one in five adults each year regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion or economic status; and

WHEREAS, Latinos are identified as a high-risk group for depression, anxiety, and substance abuse; and

WHEREAS, women and Latinos are more likely to experience a major depressive episode; and

WHEREAS,prevalence of depression is higher in Latino women (46%) than Latino men (19.6%); and

WHEREAS,Latinos are twice as likely to seek treatment for mental disorders in other settings, such as general health care or the clergy, than in mental health specialty settings; and

WHEREAS, among Latinos with mental disorders, fewer than 1 in 11 contact mental health care specialists, while fewer than 1 in 5 contact general health care providers; and

WHEREAS, the statistics become more alarming among Latino immigrants with mental disorders; fewer than 1 in 20 Latino immigrants use services from mental health specialists, while less than 1 in 10-use services from general health care providers; and

WHEREAS, untreated and mistreated mental illness costs American business, government and taxpayers an estimated $113 billion annually; and

WHEREAS,the combined indirect and related costs of mental illness, including costs of lost productivity and lost earnings, and social costs are estimated to total at least $113 billion annually; and

WHEREAS, mental health and substance abuse are widespread among persons with other health conditions including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other illnesses; and

WHEREAS, individuals with mental health conditions are more likely to suffer from hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, asthma, and acute respiratory disorders than the general population; and

WHEREAS, 80 percent of the youth entering the juvenile justice system have a mental disorder; and

WHEREAS, mental health issues influence all branches of state government including public health, children and family services, criminal justice, housing, employment, and other; and

WHEREAS,state government need to work to appropriately address and discuss the many clinical and societal issues related to mental illness; and

WHEREAS, through this work and discussion state governments need to ensure that the prevalence of mental illness in minority populations is adequately addressed and discussed in the creation of new policies and proposals; and

WHEREAS, states like Louisiana, Minnesota, Colorado and other states have been successful in establishing mental health caucuses to serve as a venue for legislators to do this work and learn about important mental health issues affecting the citizens of their state; andWHEREAS, mental health and substance abuse are widespread among persons with other health conditions including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other illnesses; and

WHEREAS, the establishment of mental health caucuses has allowed legislators to evaluate the role mental health plays in every community and in every sector of government, including Medicaid, criminal justice, education and child welfare; and

WHEREAS, the establishment of mental health caucuses provides a venue for dialogue for legislators and community stakeholders to address legislative issues that come before the chamber that could affect access to mental health services and the ability to monitor the state appropriations process to ensure that mental health services, including community supports, are funded at an appropriate level; and

WHEREAS,Latinos are disproportionately afflicted with mental illness; and

WHEREAS,members of National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) heard from mental health professionals and experts about the impact of mental illness on the Latino community during the July 2010 Symposium entitled “Addressing Mental Health.”

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,that the members of National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators express their support for the establishment of mental health caucuses in states legislators throughout this country; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,that NHCSL encourage their members to work to establish mental health caucuses or similar governing bodies in their states to ensure that mental health issues, especially those related to the Latino population, are recognized and appropriately addressed; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,that NHCSL establish their own Mental Health Task Force to serve as a resource to members in establishing their own caucuses and in recognition of the importance of mental health in the Latino community; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,that members of NHCSL recognized the importance of this issue and recommended the establishment of a NHCSL Mental Health Task Force in order to send a strong message about the priority of mental health and wellness and to find solutions that bridge unmet needs, improve the quality of and use of evidence-based practices, and improve our communities.

Sponsored By: Representative Mario Goico (KS)

THIS RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED BY NHCSL AND RATIFIED AT ITS ANNUAL MEETING HELD IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS NOVEMBER 13TH, 2010.