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A JOINT MEMORIAL
SUPPORTING THE CREATION OF A BIPARTISAN LEGISLATIVE
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CAUCUS THAT WOULD PROVIDE A VENUE FOR
LEGISLATORS TO LEARN ABOUT IMPORTANT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
AFFECTING NEW MEXICANS.
WHEREAS, good mental health is essential to everyone's
overall health and well-being; and
WHEREAS, mental health problems can affect all areas of
a person's life; and
WHEREAS, the United States department of health and
human services reports that mental health problems strike one
in four Americans each year regardless of age, gender, race,
ethnicity, religion or economic status; and
WHEREAS, all Americans are vulnerable to chronic mental
health problems associated with trauma and can benefit
greatly from early identification and treatment; and
WHEREAS, the United States surgeon general reports that
one-third of adults and one-half of young people with mental
health problems go without the help they need; and
WHEREAS, the national institute of mental health reports
that mental disorders are implicated in ninety percent of the
thirty thousand suicides and the six hundred fifty thousand
suicide attempts in the country each year; and
WHEREAS, the surgeon general also estimates that
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untreated and mistreated mental illness costs American
business, government and taxpayers approximately eighty-three
billion dollars ($83,000,000,000) annually; and
WHEREAS, the national association of state mental health
program directors research institute ranks New Mexico
fifty-first in the nation in per capita mental health
spending; and
WHEREAS, people with mental illness who are in recovery
can lead full, productive lives in the community; and
WHEREAS, a legislative behavioral health caucus would
create a venue for legislators to learn about important
mental health issues affecting the residents of New Mexico;
and
WHEREAS, a behavioral health caucus would provide
legislators an opportunity to examine the role mental health
plays in every community and in every sector of government,
including medicaid, criminal justice, education and child
welfare; and
WHEREAS, members of the behavioral health caucus would
send a strong message about the priority of mental health and
wellness and of finding solutions that bridge unmet needs,
improve the quality and outcomes of care and improve our
communities; and
WHEREAS, a behavioral health caucus would help ensure
that mental health services, including community supports,
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are funded at appropriate levels; and
WHEREAS, a behavioral health caucus would contribute to
the knowledge of legislative committees and address issues
that could affect access to mental health services;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE
STATE OF NEW MEXICO that it support the creation of a New
Mexico behavioral health caucus and that members of both
houses and all political parties be encouraged to join, or
become familiar with the work of, the legislative behavioral
health caucus; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the behavioral health caucus
be encouraged to work with groups such as the national
alliance on mental illness, the mental health association and
other behavioral health advocacy groups to educate the
legislature and the public on topics of interest regarding
behavioral health; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be
transmitted to the national alliance on mental illness-New
Mexico.