[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 82 (Monday, May 19, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H4121-H4123]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING ESTABLISHMENT OF A BEBE MOORE CAMPBELL 
            NATIONAL MINORITY MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

  Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 134) expressing the sense of the 
Congress that there should be established a Bebe Moore Campbell 
National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month to enhance public 
awareness of mental illness, especially within minority communities, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 134

       Whereas mental illness is one of the leading causes of 
     disabilities in the United States, affecting one out of every 
     four families in America and victimizing both those with the 
     illness and those who care for and love those afflicted;
       Whereas according to the National Alliance for Mentally Ill 
     (NAMI), the direct and indirect costs to the workplace 
     resulting from mental illness total over $34,000,000 
     annually;
       Whereas the National Institute of Mental Health has 
     reported that many people suffer from more than one mental 
     disorder at a given time and 45 percent of those with any 
     mental disorder meet criteria for two or more disorders, with 
     severity strongly related to comorbidity (including diabetes, 
     cardiovascular disease, HIV/AIDS, and cancer);
       Whereas according to the 1999 Surgeon General's Report on 
     Mental Illness, more than 54,000,000 Americans have a mental 
     disorder in any given year, although fewer than 8,000,000 
     seek treatment;
       Whereas according to the same Surgeon General's Report on 
     Mental Illness, adult Caucasians who suffer from depression 
     or an anxiety disorder are more likely to receive treatment 
     than adult African Americans with the same disorders even 
     though the disorders occur in both groups at about the same 
     rate, when taking into account socioeconomic factors;
       Whereas according to a report from the Office of Minority 
     and National Affairs for the American Psychiatric 
     Association, although mental illness impacts all people, 
     African Americans experience a much greater unmet need for 
     mental health services and receive a lesser quality of care, 
     thereby resulting in mental health disparities;
       Whereas the three major brain diseases--schizophrenia, 
     bipolar disorder, and depression--adversely affect the 
     economy, contribute to the rise in incarceration rates, and 
     erode the quality of family life of those involved;
       Whereas nearly two-thirds of all people with a diagnosable 
     mental illness do not seek mental health treatment due to 
     stigma,

[[Page H4122]]

     lack of community-based resources, inadequate diagnosis, or 
     no diagnosis;
       Whereas communities of color are in need of culturally 
     competent mental health resources and the training of all 
     health care providers to serve multi-ethnic consumers;
       Whereas advocacy for traditional mental health 
     organizations must be encouraged to incorporate and integrate 
     minority mental health education and outreach within their 
     respective portfolios;
       Whereas other research studies estimate that 50 to 70 
     percent of all youth in the juvenile justice system have 
     mental health problems that are usually undiagnosed, 
     misdiagnosed, untreated, or badly treated, thus leaving those 
     incarcerated in vulnerable conditions;
       Whereas minority mental health consumers often fall into 
     the category of the ``working poor'', facing additional 
     challenges because they are underinsured or uninsured, which 
     often leads to late diagnosis or no diagnosis of mental 
     illness;
       Whereas the faith, customs, values, and traditions of a 
     variety of ethnic groups should be taken into consideration 
     when attempting to treat and diagnose mental illnesses;
       Whereas a small percentage of African Americans receive 
     mental health treatment, and a significant percentage refuse 
     treatment or view mental health treatment as the ``treatment 
     of last resort'', due to the stigma associated with mental 
     illness;
       Whereas according to the 1999 Surgeon General's Report on 
     Mental Illness, African Americans are misdiagnosed at a 
     higher rate within the mental health delivery system, and 
     greater effort must be made to accurately assess the mental 
     health of African Americans;
       Whereas there is a need to improve public awareness of 
     mental illness and to strengthen local and national awareness 
     of brain diseases in order to assist with advocacy for 
     persons of color with mental illness, so that they may 
     receive adequate and appropriate treatment that will result 
     in their becoming fully functioning members of society;
       Whereas community mobilization of resources is needed to 
     educate, advocate for, and train mental health providers to 
     help remove barriers to treatment of mental disorders;
       Whereas access to mental health treatment and services is 
     of paramount importance;
       Whereas there is a need to encourage primary care 
     physicians to offer screening, partner with mental health 
     providers, and seek the appropriate referral to specialists 
     and to encourage timely and accurate diagnosis;
       Whereas the late Bebe Moore Campbell (mother, grandmother, 
     wife, friend, advocate, celebrated writer and journalist, 
     noted author, radio commentator, community activist, co-
     founder of National Alliance for the Mentally Ill Urban Los 
     Angeles, University of Pittsburgh Trustee and educator, and 
     recipient of numerous awards and honors) was recognized for 
     her tireless advocacy and fight to bring awareness and 
     attention to mental illness among minorities with the release 
     of her New York Times best selling novel, ``72 Hour Hold'', 
     and her children's book ``Sometimes My Mommy Gets Angry'', 
     which both bring awareness to the plight of those with brain 
     disorders;
       Whereas Bebe Moore Campbell through her dedication and 
     commitment sought to move communities to support mental 
     wellness through effective treatment options, open access to 
     mental health treatment and services, and improve community 
     outreach and support for the many loved ones who are unable 
     to speak for themselves; and
       Whereas July would be an appropriate month to recognize as 
     Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness 
     Month: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) improved access to mental health treatment and services 
     and public awareness of mental illness are of paramount 
     importance;
       (2) there is an important need for improved access to care, 
     treatment, and services for those diagnosed with severe and 
     persistent mental health disorders and improved public 
     awareness of mental illness; and
       (3) an appropriate month should be recognized as Bebe Moore 
     Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month to 
     enhance public awareness of mental illness and mental illness 
     among minorities.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Wynn) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) will 
each control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland.


                             General Leave

  Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Maryland?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution will designate July as Bebe Moore 
Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.
  Mental illness is one of the leading causes of disabilities in the 
United States affecting one out of every four Americans, and 
victimizing both those with the illness as well as those who care for 
and love those afflicted. However, according to a report from the 
Office of Minority and National Affairs for the American Psychiatric 
Association, although mental illness impacts all people, African 
Americans experience a much greater unmet need for mental health 
services and receive a lesser quality of care, thereby resulting in 
mental health disparities. Further, according to a Surgeon General's 
report on mental illness, African Americans who do seek help are 
misdiagnosed at a higher rate within the mental health delivery system.
  Communities of color are in need of culturally competent mental 
health providers and expanding training for all health care providers 
to serve multiethnic consumers in order to accurately assess and treat 
African Americans and other minority patients.
  According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one out of 
every three African Americans are more likely to stop treatment early, 
and are less likely to receive followup due to a lack of insurance 
coverage. Without adequate health insurance, mental health cannot be 
properly treated. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of African 
Americans receive mental health treatment, and a significant percentage 
refuse treatment or view mental health treatment as a treatment of last 
resort due to a stigma associated with mental illness.
  To address these problems, obviously we need more resources and 
access to health insurance. But critically we also need to improve 
public awareness and encourage minority citizens to confront the 
illness instead of denying it or being ashamed of its existence in 
their families and communities.
  This bill will, number one, raise awareness about mental illness and 
mental health disparities among minorities nationwide. Second, it will 
encourage training for health care providers to ensure proper diagnosis 
of African American patients and minority communities. And, third, it 
will improve public health by encouraging the expansion of vital mental 
health care into underserved communities in every State.
  Let me take a moment and tell you about Bebe Moore Campbell. Bebe 
Moore Campbell was a renowned African American author who died on 
November 27, 2006, at the age of 56. She was also my college classmate 
at the University of Pittsburgh. Through her dedication and commitment, 
Ms. Campbell sought to remove the stigma of mental illness in the 
African American community. Her novel, ``72 Hour Hold,'' and her 
children's book, ``Sometimes My Mommy Gets Angry,'' both bring to light 
the plight of those with brain disorders. Her goal was to move 
communities to support mental wellness through effective treatment, 
increased resources, access to mental health services, and improved 
community outreach and support.
  July would be an appropriate month to be designated as Bebe Moore 
Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, since our 
first book, ``72 Hour Hold,'' which addressed minority mental health 
was released to the public in July of 2005.
  I want to thank my lead cosponsor, Congresswoman Diane Watson, as 
well as all the cosponsors of this bill for their support, and I urge 
all of my colleagues to support this very important legislation.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Let me begin by thanking my good friend and colleague, Mr. Wynn, for 
authoring this very important resolution. I rise today in strong 
support of it, recognizing May as the Bebe Moore Campbell National 
Minority Health Awareness Month. Bebe Moore Campbell will be remembered 
as a celebrated writer and journalist whose New York Times best selling 
novel, ``72 Hour Hold,'' challenged minority communities to be open 
with their mental health and lower the stigma associated with receiving 
therapy. Her ability to assess

[[Page H4123]]

the mental health delivery system from a minority vantage point has 
helped raise awareness and remove barriers.
  Mental illness, Mr. Speaker, can be crippling, not only to the 
individuals suffering from this disease, but obviously also the family 
and friends of that person. In some cases, therapy is declined or 
refused because mental health care is seen as the treatment of last 
resort. But we must improve public awareness and erase the stigma that 
is so often associated with mental illness.
  Again, I would like to thank my friend and colleague, the author of 
the resolution, Mr. Wynn of Maryland, for raising public awareness of 
mental illness in minority communities and the importance of getting 
proper mental health treatment to those and for those who have been 
diagnosed. I encourage all of my colleagues to vote in favor of the 
resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, it is a great pleasure to me that this bill is 
met with such bipartisan support. I particularly want to thank my 
colleague, Mr. Smith, for his support. He is recognized throughout this 
institution as a champion for the wellness of our citizens, human 
rights, and for supporting causes which make our country better. I want 
to thank him again for his support and thank all the cosponsors.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Wynn) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 134, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the 
ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a 
quorum is not present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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