; Whereas suicide is the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 25 and 34; Whereas 1 in 4 Latino adolescents girls report contemplating suicide, a rate higher than any other demographic; Whereas Native Americans currently rank as the top ethnicity for suicide rates among young people nationwide; Whereas studies report that people with serious mental illness die, on average, 25 years earlier than the general population; Whereas those with mental illness are 11 times more likely to be the victims of crime and abuse; Whereas lack of awareness of one’s mental illness, known as anosognosia, affects approximately 50 percent of individuals with schizophrenia and 40 percent of individuals with bipolar disorder making it more challenging to receive care; Whereas the delay between a first episode of psychosis and onset of treatment is an average of 70 weeks; Whereas stigma associated with mental illness continues to persist; Whereas recovery-oriented interventions such as supported employment, supported housing, and supported education have been shown to improve outcomes; Whereas the faith community provides a vital link in ministering and serving individuals and families in need of mental health services; Whereas individuals engaged in peer recovery support services utilize crisis and emergency services less; and Whereas it would be appropriate to observe May 2017 as Mental Health Month : Now, therefore, be it