Senate Approves McIlhinney Mental Health Awareness Resolution

HARRISBURG – The Senate unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday designating May 2010 as Mental Health Awareness Month, according to the resolution’s sponsor Sen. Chuck McIlhinney (R-Bucks and Montgomery).

The U.S. Surgeon General reports that 10 percent of children and adolescents in the United States suffer from serious emotional and mental disorders that cause significant functional impairment in their day-to-day lives at home, in school and with peers. It is estimated that 26.2 percent of Americans age 18 and older suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.

"The most effective means of addressing mental illness are timely diagnosis and proper treatment," McIlhinney said. "I am hopeful that this resolution will bring greater awareness to mental health issues to reduce the misconceptions about mental illnesses and encourage more people to seek the treatment they need."

McIlhinney said the resolution is also important for members of the mental health community who are working to address these issues every day.

CONTACT:

Heather Cevasco
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