Bill Text: NY K00913 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 20, 2020, as Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day in the State of New York

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Passed) 2020-06-10 - adopted [K00913 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-K00913-Introduced.html

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Assembly Resolution No. 913

BY: M. of A. Gunther

        MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
        May 20, 2020, as Older Adult Mental Health Awareness
        Day in the State of New York

  WHEREAS,  it  is  the  custom  of this Legislative Body to recognize
official days that are  set  aside  to  increase  awareness  of  serious
illnesses that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and

  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this  Legislative  Body  is  justly  proud  to
memorialize  Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 20, 2020, as Older
Adult Mental  Health  Awareness  Day  in  the  State  of  New  York,  in
conjunction  with  the  observance of National Older Adult Mental Health
Awareness Day; and

  WHEREAS, National Older Adult Mental Health Awareness  Day  will  be
celebrated each year on a designated date in May, which is both National
Older Americans Month and National Mental Health Awareness Month; and

  WHEREAS,  The vision of National Older Adult Mental Health Awareness
Day is to bring awareness to mental illnesses in older  adults,  promote
emotional  well-being,  and  eliminate  social  stigma; through national
collaboration, the goal of National Older Adult Mental Health  Awareness
Day  is  to  bring  the  nation population information about older adult
mental illness that will educate about and improve  sensitivity  towards
these illnesses; and

  WHEREAS,  Mental  illnesses are disorders that represent significant
challenges to patients, health care workers, family members,  caregivers
and our communities; and

  WHEREAS,  While  growing  acceptance  of mental illnesses as medical
conditions, like diabetes and heart disease,  has  taken  hold  in  some
parts  of  the  nation,  unfortunately the stigma associated with mental
illnesses is a barrier to care and continues to impede  early  diagnosis
and effective treatment; and

  WHEREAS,  Mental  illnesses  have  historically  been misunderstood,
feared and therefore stigmatized, especially  among  older  adults;  the
stigma is due to a lack of education, lack of appropriate information or
proliferation of false information, ignorance, or ageism; and

  WHEREAS,  Its  effects  are especially painful and damaging to one's
self-esteem; it leaves older adults with mental illnesses  feeling  like
outcasts from society and a burden to their caregivers; and

  WHEREAS,  Whether the perceived stigma is real, it is the subjective
interpretation that affects the older adult's feelings of belonging; and

  WHEREAS, Like most groups who are stigmatized, there are many  myths
surrounding mental illnesses, as well as myths about older adults living
with mental illnesses; and

  WHEREAS,  In  order to address the disparity in how mental illnesses
among older adults are viewed in different  parts  of  the  nation,  the
Substance  Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the
National  Coalition  on  Mental  Health  and  Aging  (NCMHA),  and   the
Association  for  Community  Living  (ACL),  worked  on the concept of a
national older adult mental health awareness day; and

  WHEREAS, In order to address the disparity on how  mental  illnesses
among  older  adults  is  viewed  statewide, the Geriatric Mental Health
Alliance of New York (GMHA) worked on the  concept  of  an  older  adult
mental health awareness day in the State of New York; and

  WHEREAS,  Older adults who live with mental illnesses are encouraged
to remember that they can  lead  meaningful,  emotionally  healthy,  and
vibrant lives even though have been diagnosed with a mental illness; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is imperative that there be greater awareness of these
serious health conditions, and more must be done to increase activity at
the local, State and National levels; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
memorialize  Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 20, 2020, as Older
Adult Mental  Health  Awareness  Day  in  the  State  of  New  York,  in
conjunction  with  the  observance of National Older Adult Mental Health
Awareness Day; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That copies of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted  to  The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York; and the Geriatric Mental Health Alliance of New York (GMHA).