SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 31

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2008

INTRODUCED BY

Mary Kay Papen

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 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, 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.

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