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Recognizing October 10th as World Mental Health Day and National Depression Screening Day in Philadelphia
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WHEREAS, mental health is a critical public health issue in Philadelphia that is stigmatized and is influenced by various negative, poverty-related socioeconomic outcomes; and
WHEREAS, according to the most recent Health of the City report released by the Department of Public Health, 46% of adults in Philadelphia reported experiencing poor mental health at least once in the past month. In the School District’s 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, between 37% to 44% of high school students in Philadelphia felt sad or hopeless for at least two consecutive weeks, which is a significant indicator of depressive symptoms. Within the same survey, 23% of Hispanic/Latino students reported attempting suicide, while 21% of multiracial students and 14% of Black students reported having made recent attempts on their own lives as well; and
WHEREAS, as of last year, Pennsylvania saw a substantial rise in the number of calls, texts, and chats to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. According to Axios, there were over 14,000 contacts made between April and May 2023 alone. 21% of those contacts were redirected to out-of-state centers due to local capacity issues; and
WHEREAS, community partners like the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and its 24/7 Behavioral Health and Crisis Center, Child Guidance Resource Centers (CGRC), the Philadelphia Mental Health Center (PMHC), and other organizations with varying levels of scope provide vital mental health services to children and families, offering crisis intervention, outpatient therapies, and evidence-based treatments to combat the persistent mental health crisis; and
WHEREAS, these organizations, through their trauma-informed, family-focused approaches, empower children and families by offering immediate support and long-term care strategies, which play a pivotal role in addressing mental health disparities in under-resourced communities; and
WHEREAS, early identification and treatment of depression and other mental health conditions are key to preventing long-term adverse outcomes, and National Depression Screening Day provides a valuable opportunity to connect individuals with the care they need; and
WHEREAS, addressing mental health issues through education, awareness, and accessible care will foster resilience and improve the well-being of Philadelphia's children and their families, particularly in poor and marginalized communities, where mental health services are often most needed; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, that we hereby recognize October 10th as World Mental Health Day and National Depression Screening Day in Philadelphia. We use this as an opportunity to both highlight and elevate the work already being done on the ground by critical community partners and reaffirm our commitment to improving access to mental health care, particularly for children and families in underserved communities.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Council encourages city leaders, healthcare providers, and community organizations to continue their efforts in addressing the mental health crisis through enhanced services, outreach, and partnerships that prioritize mental health care for all residents.
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