HCR 293

R-351  Page 1 of 1
2026
No. R-351. House concurrent resolution recognizing May 2026 as Mental Health
Awareness Month in Vermont.
                                        (H.C.R.293)
  Offered by Representatives Berbeco of Winooski and Cina of Burlington
   Whereas, good mental health is essential to the overall health and well-being of all
Vermonters, affecting how they connect with others, feel, think, and navigate the world,
and
   Whereas, according to recent data from the American Psychiatric Association, 38
percent of Americans began 2026 with a mental-health-related New Year’s resolution, a
five percent increase over 2025, and this figure represents a significant public
commitment to prioritizing psychological wellness, and
   Whereas, annually, one in five Americans experience a mental health condition, yet
five out of five Americans manage their personal mental health on a daily basis, meaning
that mental health and wellness is a universal priority, and
  Whereas, in 1949, the National Institute of Mental Health was established, and that
same year, Mental Health Awareness Month was first observed, and
    Whereas, in 2026, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has selected
“Stigma grows in silence. Healing begins in community” as the theme for Mental Health
Awareness Month, a concept that invites everyone to speak out against mental health
stigma, and
    Whereas, serious mental illness and suicidal thoughts among Americans remain
critical concerns, particularly for young adults 18–34 years of age, more of whom are
now prioritizing their mental health, and
   Whereas, Mental Health Awareness Month provides an important opportunity to work
towards eradicating stigma, fostering public education, and striving to improve the
mental health of individuals and families, now therefore be it
  Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
   That the General Assembly recognizes May 2026 as Mental Health Awareness Month
in Vermont, and be it further
   Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to
NAMI Vermont, Vermont Care Partners, and the Vermont Association for Mental Health
and Addiction Recovery.
                                                                           VT LEG #389710 v.1