Whereas the mental health and well-being of people in the United States is a vital issue that affects not only quality of life, but also the health of communities, families, and economic stability; Whereas individuals with mental health conditions and other behavioral health disorders can and do recover with clinical treatment and social supports, including medications, psychotherapies, psychosocial rehabilitation, counseling services, and peer support; Whereas recovery begins with self-directed care, and parents, families, and caregivers are allies in recovery and serve as critical members of the care delivery team; Whereas advances in brain science and behavioral research show significant promise for continued improvements in effective treatments of mental illness; Whereas the increasing diversity of our country underlies both the need and importance of accessing culturally and linguistically appropriate services; Whereas Adverse Childhood Experiences can contribute significantly to negative adult mental health outcomes; Whereas approximately 1 in 5 children and adolescents has a diagnosable mental disorder at any one point in time, and 50 percent of all mental disorders begin by age 14, and 75 percent by age 24; Whereas nearly half of children with a mental health disorder did not receive needed treatment or counseling from a mental health professional in the past year; Whereas the preschool to 12th grade educational system is the best environment to nurture healthy social emotional skills and identify and intervene early with youth experiencing mental health issues; Whereas more mental health school staff and resources should be utilized to focus on prevention and early intervention in educational systems to ensure healthy minds; Whereas 65 to 70 percent of youth in contact with the juvenile justice system have a diagnosable mental health disorder; Whereas an estimated 44.7 million adults in the United States experience mental illness