[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 93 (Thursday, May 27, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3905-S3906]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 254--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE DESIGNATION OF MAY 
               2021 AS ``MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH''

  Mr. LUJAN (for himself and Mr. Portman) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 254

       Whereas the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (``COVID-19'') public 
     health emergency has taken a toll on the mental well-being of 
     the people of the United States and may be stressful for many 
     people of the United States;

[[Page S3906]]

       Whereas the people of the United States have witnessed how 
     fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and 
     contribute to strong emotions in both adults and children;
       Whereas the Joint Economic Committee of Congress released a 
     report in October of 2020 on COVID-19 and how it has worsened 
     the mental health crisis in the United States;
       Whereas the September 2020 Census Bureau survey found that 
     37 percent of adults in the United States reported symptoms 
     of anxiety or depression disorder, triple the percentage 
     reported in 2019;
       Whereas the August 14, 2020, Centers for Disease Control 
     and Prevention (referred to in this preamble ``CDC'') 
     Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report stated that--
       (1) symptoms of anxiety disorder and depressive disorder 
     increased considerably in the United States during the period 
     of April to June of 2020 compared with the same period in 
     2019; and
       (2) during late-June 2020--
          (A) 40 percent of adults in the United States reported 
     struggling with mental health or substance use;
          (B) nearly 31 percent experienced symptoms of anxiety or 
     depression;
          (C) 26 percent experienced symptoms of trauma- and 
     stressor-related disorders (``TSRD'');
          (D) 13 percent started or increased substance use; and
          (E) nearly 11 percent seriously considered suicide;
       (3) 25 percent of young adults aged 18 to 24 years old 
     reported they started or had increased substance use during 
     the pandemic, compared to 13 percent of all adults;
       (4) 26 percent of young adults aged 18 to 24 years old 
     reported thoughts of suicide, compared to 11 percent of all 
     adults;
       (5) nearly 41 percent of Hispanic respondents reported 
     symptoms consistent with an anxiety or depressive disorder, 
     nearly 35 percent experienced COVID-19 related TSRD, and 
     nearly 22 percent increased substance use to cope with 
     pandemic stress and emotions;
       (6) nearly 30 percent of Black, non-Hispanic respondents 
     reported symptoms consistent with an anxiety or depressive 
     disorder, more than 30 percent experienced COVID-19 related 
     TSRD, and more than 18 percent increased substance use to 
     cope with pandemic stress and emotions; and
       (7) 18 percent of Asian, non-Hispanic respondents reported 
     symptoms consistent with an anxiety or depressive disorder, 
     22 percent experienced COVID-19 related TSRD, and more than 6 
     percent increased substance use to cope with pandemic stress 
     and emotions;
       Whereas according to the American Psychological 
     Association, in 2020--
       (1) nearly 1 in 5 adults saw their mental health worsen in 
     the last year; and
       (2) 61 percent of adults stated they could have used more 
     emotional support than they received over the prior 12 
     months;
       Whereas there was a 1,000-percent increase in text messages 
     in April 2020 on a Federal text emergency hotline for people 
     in emotional distress;
       Whereas according to the Pew Research Center, more than 
     one-third of people in the United States have experienced 
     high levels of psychological distress at some point during 
     the extended period of social distancing;
       Whereas the Census Bureau 2020 Household Pulse Survey found 
     that--
       (1) in December 2020, 47 percent of women reported symptoms 
     of anxiety or depressive disorder compared to 38 percent of 
     men; and
       (2) as of December 2020, 56 percent of young adults have 
     reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder;
       Whereas the November 13, 2020, CDC Morbidity and Mortality 
     Weekly Report found that between March 2020 and October 2020 
     there was a 24 percent increase nationwide in mental health 
     related emergency room visits among children between the ages 
     of 5 and 11 and a 31 percent increase among those between 12 
     and 17, compared with the same period in 2019;
       Whereas 74 percent of LGBT people stated that worry and 
     stress from the pandemic has had a negative impact on their 
     mental health, compared to 49 percent of those who are not 
     LGBT;
       Whereas the February 5, 2021, CDC Morbidity and Mortality 
     Weekly Report found that current symptoms of depression were 
     reported 59 percent more frequently by Hispanic adults than 
     by White, non-Hispanic adults;
       Whereas a survey found that in May 2020, 20 percent of 
     Latinos surveyed were experiencing anxiety and 15.7 percent 
     of Latinos were experiencing increased stress due to the 
     COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown;
       Whereas, from June 2020 to September 2020, 93 percent of 
     health care workers were experiencing stress, 86 percent were 
     experiencing anxiety, 76 percent reported exhaustion and 
     burnout, 75 percent said they were overwhelmed, and 39 
     percent said they did not feel like they had adequate 
     emotional support;
       Whereas, in 2020, a Kaiser Family Foundation analysis found 
     that 42 percent of essential workers surveyed reported 
     experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder, 25 
     percent started or increased substance use to cope with 
     stress or emotions related to COVID-19, and 22 percent 
     considered suicide in the past 30 days; and
       Whereas it would be appropriate to observe May 2021 as 
     ``Mental Health Awareness Month'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the designation of ``Mental Health Awareness 
     Month'' to remove the stigma associated with mental illness 
     and place emphasis on scientific findings regarding mental 
     health recovery;
       (2) declares mental health a national priority;
       (3) recognizes mental well-being is equally as important as 
     physical well-being for citizens, communities, schools, 
     businesses, and the economy in the United States;
       (4) applauds the coalescing of national, State, local, 
     medical, and faith-based organizations in working to promote 
     public awareness of mental health and providing critical 
     information and support during this pandemic to individuals 
     and families affected by mental illness; and
       (5) encourages all to draw on ``Mental Health Awareness 
     Month'' as an opportunity to promote mental well-being and 
     awareness, ensure access to appropriate services and care, 
     and support overall quality of life for those living with 
     mental illness.

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