Recognizing May of 2026 as "Mental Health Awareness Month" in the State of Rhode Island

WHEREAS, Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being; it affects how we think, feel, and act; it also affects how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices; and

WHEREAS, Mental health allows us to maintain relationships, take care of ourselves and our families, take care of our physical bodies, and respond and adapt to daily life changes; and

WHEREAS, Nearly 20 percent of children and young people ages 3-17 in the United States have a mental, emotional, developmental or behavioral disorder; and

WHEREAS, According to Mental Health America (MHA), approximately 20 percent of teenagers reported having at least one major depressive episode in the last year; and

WHEREAS, In 2024, The United States suicide rate reached a record high, rising to 14.7 deaths per 100,000 individuals, a 30 percent increase over the past two decades; and

WHEREAS, Suicide is the second leading cause of death amongst people aged 10 – and the th leading cause of death in the United States; and

WHEREAS, A lack of mental health awareness leads to devastating impacts on the well- being of individuals and society; and

WHEREAS, Evidence-based mental and behavioral health training teaches adults how to recognize signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges in youth and adults, and provides skills to use a 5-step action plan to help someone who may be facing a mental health challenge or crisis, such as suicide; and

WHEREAS, Teen Mental Health First Aid trainings are proven to reduce stigma and teach teens how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among their friends and peers; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby recognizes May of 2026 as "Mental Health Awareness Month" in the State of Rhode Island. We moreover call upon citizens, organizations, health care providers, municipalities and schools to raise mental health awareness, provide age-appropriate mental health education and training, and continue helping Rhode Island citizens live longer, healthier lives; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals.