PRINTER'S NO. 1422
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
136
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY KINSEY, HOHENSTEIN, HILL-EVANS, MADDEN,
SCHLOSSBERG, BRENNAN, KHAN, DELLOSO, FLEMING, HADDOCK,
SANCHEZ AND HOWARD, JUNE 2, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, JUNE 2, 2023
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the week of October 8 through 14, 2023, as
"Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Awareness Week" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Equally affecting individuals from all races,
ethnicities and backgrounds, obsessive compulsive disorder is a
mental illness involving a continuing cycle of obsessions and
compulsions; and
WHEREAS, Obsessions are unwanted, recurring and intrusive
thoughts that typically elicit distressing feelings; and
WHEREAS, Compulsions are excessive and repetitive behaviors
undertaken to mitigate distress that results from obsessions;
and
WHEREAS, Researchers believe that genetic predisposition and
an inability for certain brain cells to communicate with one
another contribute to obsessive compulsive disorder, though a
precise cause of the disorder is unknown; and
WHEREAS, Licensed mental health professionals diagnose
obsessive compulsive disorder when an individual experiences
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both obsessions and compulsions that interfere with other
important life activities; and
WHEREAS, Obsessive compulsive disorder can begin at any age,
but typically first appears between 10 and 12 years of age, in
the late teenage years or early adulthood; and
WHEREAS, One in 40 adults are diagnosed with obsessive
compulsive disorder; and
WHEREAS, One in 100 children in the United States have
obsessive compulsive disorder; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 2.3% of Americans will struggle with
obsessive compulsive disorder at some point in their lifetime;
and
WHEREAS, Individuals with obsessive compulsive disorder
grapple with the disorder in varying degrees of severity with
50.6% experiencing severe impairment, 34.8% experiencing
moderate impairment and 14.6% experiencing mild impairment; and
WHEREAS, An average of 14 to 17 years elapse between the time
an individual begins experiencing symptoms of obsessive
compulsive disorder until the time they receive appropriate
treatment; and
WHEREAS, The majority of individuals suffering from obsessive
compulsive disorder benefit from a combination of therapy and
medicine; and
WHEREAS, First recognized in 2009, "Obsessive Compulsive
Disorder Awareness Week" occurs in the second week of October
each year and is an international effort to increase awareness
and understanding about obsessive compulsive disorder; and
WHEREAS, Through raising awareness, "Obsessive Compulsive
Disorder Awareness Week" seeks to help individuals receive
appropriate and effective treatment for the disorder; therefore
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be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
week of October 8 through 14, 2023, as "Obsessive Compulsive
Disorder Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives raise awareness
and understanding about obsessive compulsive disorder while
acknowledging the importance of timely access to effective
treatment.
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