Designates first week of May of each year as "Children's Mental Health Awareness Week."

SJR118

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 118

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 12, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT

District 31 (Hudson)

SYNOPSIS

���� Designates first week of May of each year as
�Children�s Mental Health Awareness Week.�

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A Joint
Resolution

permanently designating
first week of May as �Children�s Mental Health Awareness Week� in New Jersey.

Whereas,

Mental health is an essential part of a person�s overall health and ability to
thrive in their community; and

Whereas,

Mental illnesses are medical conditions that disrupt a person�s thinking,
feeling, mood, ability to relate to others, and daily functioning; and

Whereas,

Just as ailments of other organs of the body, mental illnesses are medical
conditions that often result in diminished capacity for coping with the
ordinary demands of life; and

Whereas,

Emotional disturbances can affect a child beyond their immediate emotional
state, sometimes creating long-term mental health challenges that can affect
physical, social, or cognitive skills; and

Whereas,

Some characteristics commonly seen in children who have an emotional
disturbance include hyperactivity, aggression, self-injurious behavior, social
withdrawal, immaturity, and learning difficulties; and

Whereas,

Children are, in many ways, more vulnerable than adults to mental illness, and
children with mental illness have a far greater likelihood of being suspended
from school, abusing drugs or alcohol, or ending up in the juvenile justice
system; and

Whereas,

Many children with mental health disorders do not receive treatment for their
illnesses, due to poor understanding of mental illness and treatment options,
stigma or lack of access to treatment; and

Whereas,
Enhanced
awareness of mental illness in children can help to reduce the stigma
associated with mental illness, and help improve access to treatment that can
help children lead full and productive lives; and

Whereas,
The first
week of May is recognized as National Children�s Mental Health Awareness Week
to promote positive development of children�s mental health; and

Whereas,
The State of
New Jersey can support the efforts of national and local groups advocating for
children�s mental health by annually honoring �Children�s Mental Health
Awareness Week�; now, therefore,

����
Be It
Resolved
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� The first week of May of
each year is designated as "Children�s Mental Health Awareness Week"
in the State of New Jersey in order to foster public awareness and
understanding of mental health and mental illness in children.

���� 2.��� The Governor is
requested to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and
the citizens of this State to observe "Children�s Mental Health Awareness
Week" with appropriate activities and programs.

���� 3.��� This joint resolution
shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

����
This joint resolution designates the first week of May as
�Children�s Mental Health Awareness Week� in New Jersey to raise public
awareness of mental health and mental illness in children.�

����� Mental illness can adversely affect children in many
ways, including increasing the likelihood of a child of being suspended from
school, abusing drugs or alcohol, or ending up in the juvenile justice system.�
Many children with mental health disorders do not receive treatment for their
illnesses, due to poor understanding of mental illness and treatment options,
stigma or lack of access to treatment.� The resolution intends to promote
awareness in hopes of improving the lives of children who have emotional
disturbances and other mental health disorders.