[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1217 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1217

     Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the 
  prevention of mental disorders and substance abuse among children, 
    youth, and young adults, and the promotion of mental health and 
 wellness among these populations, should be a public health priority.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 21, 2008

 Ms. Baldwin (for herself and Mrs. Bono Mack) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the 
  prevention of mental disorders and substance abuse among children, 
    youth, and young adults, and the promotion of mental health and 
 wellness among these populations, should be a public health priority.

Whereas mental health and substance use disorders among children, youth, and 
        young adults are major threats to the health and well-being that often 
        carry over into adulthood;
Whereas the July 2003 report of the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental 
        Health stated that without interventions, child and adolescent mental 
        health problems may lead to a downward spiral, and that no other 
        illnesses damage so many children so seriously;
Whereas the costs of treatment for mental health and addictive disorders create 
        an enormous burden on the affected individuals, their families, and 
        society as a whole;
Whereas approximately 1 out of 2 people who need mental health treatment in our 
        Nation do not receive it, and the rate of treatment and quality of care 
        is even lower for ethnic and racial minorities;
Whereas mental health promotion and prevention practices can impede the onset, 
        or reduce the severity, of disorders, and can lead to mental health 
        among children, youth, and young adults;
Whereas significant progress has occurred in understanding what factors 
        contribute to healthy development of children, especially in the face of 
        adversity, and has provided a sound base of knowledge that underlies 
        many effective health promotion and prevention strategies;
Whereas well-researched health promotion and prevention practices have emerged 
        in a variety of settings, including programs for at-risk populations, 
        school-based interventions, interventions in primary care settings, and 
        the provision of community mental health services;
Whereas funding levels for mental health prevention and promotion services 
        remain low compared to levels for treatment, residential placement, law 
        enforcement, and corrections;
Whereas science has provided the Nation with a rich foundation for fostering 
        public and private sector collaboration in prevention and promotion 
        efforts for children, youth, and young adults, particularly in 
        educational, child welfare, and primary care settings;
Whereas the wide application of promising research findings on disorder 
        prevention and mental health promotion requires a strategy and program 
        of dissemination to foster the use of evidence-based programs and 
        practices in addressing the mental health needs of children, youth, and 
        young adults; and
Whereas the July 2003 report of the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental 
        Health stated that the Nation must continue to invest in research to 
        further advance prevention in mental health care: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that 
the prevention of mental disorders and substance abuse among children, 
youth, and young adults, and the promotion of mental health and 
wellness among these populations should be a public health priority.
                                 <all>