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House committee approves resolution declaring May 2025 Mental Health Awareness Month and Tardive Dyskinesia week
Summary
The House Health and Social Services Committee voted by unanimous consent May 8, 2025, to move Senate Concurrent Resolution 4 recognizing Mental Health Awareness Month and a Tardive Dyskinesia awareness week, after testimony from Senator Elvi Gray‑Jackson and Anne Ringstead of NAMI Alaska.
Senator Elvi Gray‑Jackson introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution 4 to the House Health and Social Services Committee on May 8, 2025, asking members to designate May 2025 as Mental Health Awareness Month and a week in May 2025 as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week.
Gray‑Jackson told the committee that "Alaska continues to face a crisis in mental health" and cited state suicide and youth depression figures as the basis for the resolution's awareness and stigma‑reduction goals.
Anne Ringstead, executive director of NAMI Alaska, testified in support by phone and urged the committee to pass the resolution as a public awareness measure. Ringstead said, "Timely care and open dialogue can save lives," and described tardive dyskinesia as an underdiagnosed condition affecting people who have received long‑term antipsychotic treatment.
Committee members asked no additional public witnesses and there were no fiscal notes associated with the resolution. Chair Mina moved the resolution from committee with individual recommendations and an attached zero fiscal note; the motion carried by unanimous consent with no roll‑call vote recorded.
Ending: The committee passed SCR4 and asked members to remain after adjournment to sign the committee report.
