WHEREAS, It is in the best interest of the state to increase awareness regarding the negative stigma associated with mental illness; and

WHEREAS, Stigma is a very real problem for people who have a mental illness; and

WHEREAS, Every person needs and deserves to feel a sense of belonging, and not be excluded or ostracized; and

WHEREAS, The most formidable obstacle to future progress in the area of mental health is stigma, and the nation has the power today to tear down that obstacle; and

WHEREAS, Throughout our great state, there are efforts by public and private mental health agencies that work tirelessly to educate the public about the harmful effects of stigma; and

WHEREAS, Some of the harmful effects of stigma include trying to pretend nothing is wrong, refusal to seek treatment, rejection by family and friends, work or school problems or discrimination, difficulty finding housing, being subjected to physical violence or harassment, and inadequate health insurance coverage of mental illnesses; and

WHEREAS, Of California’s approximately 36.8 million residents, close to 1,175,000 adults live with a serious mental illness and about 422,000 children live with serious mental health conditions; and

WHEREAS, While one in five Americans live with a mental disorder, estimates indicate that nearly two-thirds of all people with a diagnosable mental illness do not seek treatment, especially people from diverse communities; and

WHEREAS, Despite civil rights laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, people with mental illnesses often experience discrimination in education, housing, health care, and the workplace; and

WHEREAS, According to the California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission’s report of 2007, a public education campaign can improve the public’s awareness of unmet needs and reduce the harmful effects of stigma and discrimination; now, therefore, be it