Vermont H.C.R. 173: House concurrent resolution honoring the extraordinary public service and sacrifice of the Morse family of Jay and congratulating Helen (Sargent) Morse on her 95th birthday

Bill Text

R-208 Page 1 of 1
2026

VT LEG #387188 v.1
No. R-208. House concurrent resolution designating January 29, 2026, as Mental
Health Advocacy Day at the State House.
(H.C.R.173)
Offered by Representatives Berbeco of Winooski and Cina of Burlington
Whereas, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI),
approximately 104,000 adults in Vermont live with a mental health condition and 27,000
have a serious mental health illness, and
Whereas, youth mental health challenges persist in Vermont; data from a 2023
Vermont Department of Health survey documented that roughly one-third of the State’s
high school students indicated they have poor mental health, approximately one-fourth
reported instances of self-harm, and 14 percent had developed a suicide plan, and
Whereas, the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
research showed that just one-half of the adults in the United States who experienced any
mental illness (AMI) received treatment, and for those persons who experienced serious
mental illness (SMI), the comparable percentage was only 70 percent, and
Whereas, these concerning statistics reflect gaps in mental health support services both
in Vermont and nationally, and
Whereas, the 11th Annual Mental Health Advocacy Day at the State House being held
today, January 29, 2026, is organized under the theme “Together for Dignity, United for
Change: Reclaiming Mental Health in Vermont,” and the participants include individuals
with lived experiences, families, providers, and advocates, now therefore be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
That the General Assembly designates January 29, 2026, as Mental Health Advocacy
Day at the State House, and be it further
Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to
each of the mental health advocacy organizations present today at the State House,
including NAMI Vermont, the Vermont Association for Mental Health and Addiction
Recovery, and the Vermont Care Partners.