Expressing support for the designation of the week of May 22 through 26, 2023, as "Educator Mental Health Awareness Week".

IV 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 436 Expressing support for the designation of the week of May 22 through 26, 2023, as ‘‘Educator Mental Health Awareness Week’’. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY 22, 2023 Mr. TRONE (for himself, Ms. MACE, Ms. BONAMICI, Mr. TONKO, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Ms. CHU, Ms. SEWELL, Ms. KAPTUR, Ms. PETTERSEN, Ms. CROCKETT, Mr. MOULTON, Mrs. WATSON COLE- MAN, Mr. DESAULNIER, Mr. KILMER, Mr. RUPPERSBERGER, Ms. BROWN, Mr. CROW, Ms. LEE of Nevada, Mr. BOWMAN, Mr. CA´RDENAS, Ms. CRAIG, and Ms. PORTER) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of the week of May 22 through 26, 2023, as ‘‘Educator Mental Health Awareness Week’’. Whereas educators such as teachers and school staff are foundational to the development of future generations of Americans; Whereas the COVID–19 pandemic illuminated preexisting challenges and caused an unprecedented transformation of our Nation’s education system; VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:52 May 23, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR436.IH HR436 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •HRES 436 IH Whereas educators continue to exhibit resilience and a com- mitment to their students and school communities in spite of workforce challenges; Whereas educators are expected to meet the diverse aca- demic, social, emotional, and behavioral needs of indi- vidual students while simultaneously meeting the de- mands of required accountability measures, conferencing with parents, and adapting to new programs and initia- tives required by State and local educational agencies; Whereas educators are still experiencing secondary trauma and compassion fatigue; Whereas a 2021 survey found that since the start of the pan- demic, 27 percent of teachers self-reported symptoms consistent with clinical depression, 37 percent self-re- ported symptoms consistent with anxiety disorder, and 19 percent self-reported increased use of substances to cope with stress; Whereas a 2021 study found that teachers are almost twice as likely to experience frequent, job-related stress and nearly 3 times as likely to experience symptoms of de- pression than the general adult population; Whereas a 2021 report found that teachers are asking for more mental health training and resources, access to on- site therapeutic resources, and more time to both fulfill their professional responsibilities and to focus explicitly on their own mental health; Whereas a 2022 survey revealed that more than half of teachers said they were considering leaving the field or retiring, more now than they were before the pandemic; VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:52 May 23, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR436.IH HR436 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 3 •HRES 436 IH Whereas teacher well-being is often overlooked as a part of school health and a component of ensuring academic suc- cess; and Whereas it would be appropriate to observe the week of May 22 through May 26, 2023, as ‘‘Educator Mental Health Awareness Week’’: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 (1) supports the designation of ‘‘Educator Men- 2 tal Health Awareness Week’’ to acknowledge the ex- 3 periences teachers and staff are facing each day and 4 to prioritize their mental health; 5 (2) recognizes every teacher and staff’s well- 6 being and mental health as important to the health 7 of students nationwide; 8 (3) applauds the unity of Federal, State, and 9 local educational organizations working to promote 10 public awareness of teacher and staff mental health 11 and providing critical information and resources dur- 12 ing trying times; and 13 (4) encourages all to draw on ‘‘Educator Men- 14 tal Health Awareness Week’’ as an opportunity to 15 promote mental well-being and awareness, not only 16 for the educators of today, but also for their stu- 17 dents, our leaders of tomorrow. 18 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:52 May 23, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR436.IH HR436 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB