title
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
PROMOTING MINORITY HEALTH AWARENESS AND SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL MINORITY MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH IN JULY 2020
WHEREAS, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), nearly one in five adults in the United States has experienced mental illness; and
WHEREAS, seventy percent of youth in the juvenile justice system have a diagnosed mental illness and these systems also contained a high percentages of underserved minority youth, many of them from Black and Latinx communities; and
WHEREAS, forty-five percent of individuals who are homeless in the United States have a mental illness and one major risk factor for homelessness is mental illness, and the inability to access affordable, supportive mental healthcare; and
WHEREAS, depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide; and
WHEREAS, anyone can experience mental health illness regardless of their race, color, gender or identity but access to mental health treatment and services is much more difficult for communities of color due to disparities in access to mental health; and
WHEREAS, for minorities who may have less access to care and who face more cultural stigma are even more discouraged to seek the proper support and therefore long-term, sustained efforts are needed to improve access to culturally informed, evidence-based quality mental health care; and
WHEREAS, the current world pandemic is disproportionately impacting communities of color at a higher rate and is also affecting people’s mental health due to the increase in anxiety and emotional distress; and
WHEREAS, every family, youth, adult and community should have the resources and knowledge to discuss mental health concerns, connect with appropriate support, and have access to effective mental health care; and
WHEREAS, diversity in the mental health workforce is important to provide culturally competent evidence-based prevention, and treatment services for diverse communities; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Cook County President and the Cook County Board of Commissioners do hereby recognize July 2020 as “National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month”; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, this honorable body supports the goal of addressing racial and ethnic disparities in mental health care in Cook County and this country.
end