74th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2007 Regular Session
 
NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
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 LC 3877
 
                   Senate Joint Resolution 39
 
Sponsored by COMMITTEE ON RULES
 
 
                             SUMMARY
 
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.
 
  Designates May 8 of each year as Mental Health Awareness Day.
 
                        JOINT RESOLUTION
  Whereas more than 175,000 adults and 75,000 children in Oregon
will need some kind of mental health service each year; and
  Whereas mental illness is a medical condition affecting an
individual's brain and nervous system; and
  Whereas mental illness negatively affects an individual's
feelings, moods and daily functioning, as well as cognition and
ability to relate to others; and
  Whereas mental illness indiscriminately affects individuals
regardless of age, race, religion or income; and
  Whereas mental illness usually strikes individuals during their
adolescence and young adulthood, but both the young and the old
are also vulnerable to mental illness; and
  Whereas the social and personal costs of neglecting mental
illness far exceed the costs of providing direct services to
individuals and their families living with mental illness; and
  Whereas without treatment, the consequences of mental illness
are severe and include unemployment, substance abuse,
homelessness, inappropriate incarceration and suicide; and
  Whereas the economic cost of untreated mental illness in the
United States is more than $100 billion each year; and
  Whereas state and local governments must support effective
methods of coordinating and funding mental health and addiction
services and create a shared sense of responsibility for
individuals with mental illness in our community; and
  Whereas most individuals who live with mental illness can
experience relief and recovery from their symptoms through
diagnosis and participation in an individual recovery plan; and
  Whereas the best treatments for mental illness currently
available are highly effective, significantly reducing symptoms
and improving the quality of life for 70 to 90 percent of those
individuals who obtain treatment that includes peer support,
medications, psychosocial treatments and other support and
services; and
  Whereas individuals with mental illness experience prejudice,
exclusion, rejection and discrimination; and
  Whereas it is incumbent on all Oregonians to confront
inaccurate and harmful representations of mental illness and to
challenge stereotypes about the realities of mental illness; and
  Whereas mental health recovery is a journey of healing and
transformation that enables an individual to live a meaningful
life in the community while achieving the individual's full
potential; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of
  Oregon:
  That the eighth day of May in each year is designated as Mental
Health Awareness Day. All Oregon citizens are urged to join in
this observance.
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