2012 -- H 8136

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LC02514

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING MAY 9, 2012, TO BE CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH DAY IN THE

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives O`Grady, Petrarca, Menard, MacBeth, and Tomasso

     Date Introduced: May 09, 2012

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, States and communities across the country have set aside May 9th as a day to

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raise awareness about the importance of children’s mental health and to increase understanding

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about the mental health needs of children and their families; and

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     WHEREAS, All too often, young people are faced with serious challenges affecting their

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mental health and, oftentimes, these challenges can have a negative impact on their quality of life;

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and

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     WHEREAS, Twenty percent of our young people will experience teen depression before

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they reach adulthood and at any given time, ten to twenty percent of all teenagers are

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experiencing symptoms of depression; and

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     WHEREAS, Many teens will suffer more than one episode of depression, twenty to forty

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percent will have an episode within one year, and seventy percent will have more than one by the

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time they reach adulthood.  These episodes can often last eight months; and

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     WHEREAS, Fifteen percent of depressed teens will develop bipolar disorder, which can

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potentially jeopardize their futures; and

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     WHEREAS, Only thirty-three percent of depressed teens will seek help when they

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believe they are depressed, although eighty percent of the actual cases could successfully be

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treated; and

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     WHEREAS, Drawing attention to these potentially serious mental health challenges is a

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fundamental necessity in the effort to help our young people lead more healthy and productive

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lives; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

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Providence Plantations hereby proclaims May 9th of 2012 to be “Children’s Mental Health Day”

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and urges all the citizens of the state to become cognizant and ever vigilant of the symptoms and

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treatment options for teen depression; and be it further  

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Ms. Emma Hebert.

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LC02514

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