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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RECOGNIZING NATIONAL MINORITY MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH IN COOK COUNTY
WHEREAS, the month of July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, a month-long initiative to bring awareness to the unique mental health struggles of all racial and ethnic minorities and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations across the country; and
WHEREAS, National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month was brought before Congress, to be formally recognized on June 2, 2008, in honor of Bebe Moore Campbell with the goal of bringing forth solutions to the unique mental health struggles of racial and ethnic minorities; and
WHEREAS, mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being, and effects how we think, feel, and act, and helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices; and
WHEREAS, racial and ethnic minority populations experience numerous mental health disparities including higher rates of attempted suicide in adolescents and lower treatment rates for mental disorders like depression in adults; and
WHEREAS, limited access to culturally and linguistically appropriate services; and stigma surrounding mental health care and social determinates of health are factors that can lead to poor mental health outcomes for racial and ethnic minority; and
WHEREAS, in Mental Health America’s 2024 state ranking report, Illinois ranked 15th overall, which indicates lower prevalence of mental illness and higher rates of access to care compared to lower ranked states; and
WHEREAS, despite Illinois’s overall ranking, according to BMC Public Health, many minority groups in Illinois have disproportionate differences in access to health care which affects their health-related quality of life; and
WHEREAS, despite experiencing mental health issues at a similar rate to white Americans, among adults who report fair or poor mental health, minority groups are less likely to say they received mental health services in the past three years with Black adults (39%) and Hispanic adults (36%) compared to White adults (50%); and
WHEREAS, provider bias is a cause of mental health disparities among minorities, documented by the American Psychological Association (APA) 2023 report highlights that only 18% of psychologists identify as racial or ethnic minorities, compared to over 40% of the U.S. population. Specifically, 6% identify as Black/African American, 8% as Hispanic/Latino, 4% as Asian, and less than 1% as Native American; and
WHEREAS, diverse psychologists bring unique perspectives, improving the understanding and treatment of clients from varied backgrounds, and help bridge gaps in mental health disparities among underserved populations, underscoring the importance of improving the access to quality education and financial resources for students to pursue a career in behavioral health; and
WHEREAS, this year’s National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month theme, “Turn Awareness into Action” calls on each of us to explore ways to strengthen our mental health through practices that reflect our values, our culture, and our needs; and
WHEREAS, although the mental health of individuals from different generations may be equally affected by racism and discrimination, they may face unique mental health challenges based on their age. Each age group also has their own unique wisdom to share when it comes to taking care of their own mental health and advocating for mental wellness in their communities; and
WHEREAS, Cook County and Cook County Health is leading by example in behavioral health care with the establishment of the 211 Metro Chicago behavioral health helpline and the Stronger Together: Building a More Equitable Behavioral Health System in Cook County Initiative among other programming throughout the county; and
WHEREAS, this Honorable Body wishes to raise awareness to the issues presented herein by promoting National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in Cook County;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the President and the Cook County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of the more than 5.2 million residents of Cook County, do hereby take this opportunity to acknowledge National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, in conjunction with National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month that the month of July 2025 be hereby declared as National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in the County of Cook; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this text be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body in recognition of National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.
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