RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF MAY 2026 AS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH.

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Jones Giltner & Sen. Buckson

Reps. Berry, Burns, Bush, Carson, S. Moore, Morrison, Osienski, Romer, Snyder-Hall, Yearick, Minor-Brown; Sens. Cruce, Hansen, Hoffner, Huxtable, Lockman, Mantzavinos, Pettyjohn, Poore, Pinkney

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 133

RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF MAY 2026 AS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH.

WHEREAS, Mental Health Awareness Month serves as an opportunity to recognize the collective efforts of organizations and community partners across Delaware, including the Delaware Behavioral Health Consortium, whose work helps expand awareness, reduce stigma, encourage early intervention, and strengthen access to behavioral health supports and services throughout the State; and

WHEREAS, the Delaware Behavioral Health Consortium’s working group members, comprised of behavioral health professionals, educators, advocates, first responders, healthcare leaders, community organizations, and individuals with lived experience, continue to dedicate their time, expertise, and partnership to advancing innovative, community-informed solutions that strengthen Delaware’s behavioral health system of care and improve the wellbeing of Delawareans statewide; and

WHEREAS, 1 in 5 adults in the United States experience mental illness each year, but less than half of them receive treatment; and

WHEREAS, more than 100 Americans die by suicide each day, and suicide is the second leading cause of death among Americans ages 10 through 34; and

WHEREAS, mental illness and substance use disorders are involved in 1 out of every 8 emergency department visits by an adult in the United States; and

WHEREAS, approximately 37% of people in prison and many youth involved in the juvenile justice system experience mental health conditions; and

WHEREAS, 11% of youth have an anxiety disorder, 8% of youth have a behavior or conduct disorder, and 4% of youth have a diagnosed depressive disorder; and

WHEREAS, 50% of all lifelong cases of mental illness begin by age 14; and

WHEREAS, mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood; and

WHEREAS, in recognition of the importance of mental health and the advantages to individuals and our communities of providing resources to identify and treat mental health conditions as early as possible, the 151st General Assembly passed HB 100 and HB 300 which creates a mental health services unit to fund a position for counselors, psychologists, social workers and mental health therapists in schools with kindergarten through 5th grade, and in 6th through 8th grade; and

WHEREAS, to continue the work of HB 100 and HB 300, the General Assembly has introduced and is considering HB 200 which would create a mental health services unit in schools with 9th through 12th grade; and

WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic and associated economic, social, and educational disruptions have served to exacerbate mental health conditions in both adults and children, making the availability of mental health resources more important than ever.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 153rd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that May 2026 is recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly calls upon citizens, government agencies, and others to raise mental health awareness and continue helping Delawareans to live longer, healthier, more productive lives.

SYNOPSIS

This Concurrent Resolution recognizes the month of May 2026 as Mental Health Awareness Month