Recognizing the Fourth Day of May as Mental Health and Dignity Day in the City of Philadelphia.

WHEREAS, On May 4, 2014, the Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania is taking part in National Mental Health and Dignity Day, in solidarity with counterpart organizations and individual grassroots events in California, Georgia, Michigan, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Texas and West Virginia, alongside its event in Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, The National Mental Health and Dignity Day is a partner with Creating Community Solutions, which is supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the White House as part of the National Dialogue on Mental Health; and

WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia has previously declared May as Mental Health Month in Philadelphia (RESOLUTION NO. 060273); and

WHEREAS, One in four people will experience a diagnosable mental health condition within any given year according to the National Institute of Mental Health, and six percent will experience severe mental illness; and

WHEREAS, The

JAMA

(

Journal of the American Medical Association)

recently published an article that found that nearly 1 in 5 post-9/11 Army enlistees had pre-existing mental health issues, and 1 in 10 had considered suicide; and

WHEREAS, The stigma and discrimination surrounding diagnoses of mental illness are still barriers to seeking treatment worldwide; and

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare has called for “a recovery-oriented mental health system for adults that recognizes, respects and accommodates differences as they relate to culture/ethnicity/race, religion, gender identity and sexual orientation; ensures individual human rights and eliminates discrimination and stigma; and in which services are provided in a comprehensive array by unifying programs and funding that build on natural and community support unique to each individual and family”; and

WHEREAS, The Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania has been a leader regionally, statewide and nationally in transforming mental health services to become more responsive to the priorities of individuals with mental health challenges and their family members; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby proclaim the Fourth Day of May as Mental Health and Dignity Day in the City of Philadelphia and we call upon men and women in the City of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to take proactive measures to raise awareness regarding mental health conditions, to promote mental health recovery, and to encourage accessible mental health care.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to representatives of the Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania, further evidencing the sincere sentiment and high esteem of this legislative body.

End