Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 103 Part 3.djvu/1045

 PROCLAMATION 6032—SEPT. 29, 1989 103 STAT. 3113 NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim October 1989 as National Quality Month. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this occa- sion with appropriate ceremonies and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty- ninth day of September, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fourteenth. GEORGE BUSH Proclamation 6032 of September 29, 1989 . t Mental Illness Awareness Week, 1989 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation The 20th century has been marked by major advances in medical re- search and technology. Today, we can easily prevent or cure many dis- eases that once proved to be debilitating or even deadly. Because this remarkable scientific progress has included the study of mental illness, scientists and health care professionals now have a much greater im- derstanding of such afflictions as depression, schizophrenia, phobias, and anxiety disorders. During the past 10 years alone, our knowledge of mental illness has in- creased dramatically. Indeed, our ever-expanding knowledge of the brain might well be considered one of the most profound accomplish- ments of om" time. That is why continued failm-e to diagnose or treat mental illness—and to accept and understand those who suffer from it—^is so needless and so regrettable. Far too many mentally ill Ameri- cans are also victims of fear, prejudice, and distrust. Mental illness not only inhibits their ability to function normally in society, but also in- flicts untold personal anguish upon them and their loved ones. Frequently the result of biological or chemical disorders in the brain, mental illness can affect anyone—^regardless of age, gender, race, or economic status. For a child or adolescent, a mental illness left untreat- ed can mean years of torment, as well as lost opportunities to learn and grow. Adults who suffer from mental illness may not only lose their independence and ability to contribute, but also become strangers to their families and friends. Elderly victims can enjoy neither the com- forts of retirement nor the well-earned respect and dignity rightfully af- forded to our senior citizens. Tragically, the confusion, aUenation, and loss of hope felt by some victims of mental illness—yoimg and old alike—^have even led them to take their own lives. We can—and we must—help the victims of mental illness. Of the mil- lions of Americans who suffer from depression, well over half could benefit from proper treatment. Scientific research has produced treat- ments that can alleviate the hallucinations and delusions that haunt victims of schizophrenia. There are also treatments, including medica- tions and various forms of psychotherapy, to allay crippling panic and anxiety disorders and to help patients overcome dysfunctional behav-

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