DELAWARE STATE SENATE

152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 33

DESIGNATING MAY 1–7, 2023, AS “TARDIVE DYSKINESIA AWARENESS WEEK” IN DELAWARE.

WHEREAS, May is National Mental Health Awareness Month; and

WHEREAS, Tardive Dyskinesia is a movement disorder that disproportionately affects people being treated for chronic mental health conditions, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and severe depression; and

WHEREAS, ongoing treatment with prescription antipsychotic medications has many benefits for those with these and other mental illnesses; and

WHEREAS, antipsychotic medications may lead to Tardive Dyskinesia in one out of every four patients receiving long-term treatment; and

WHEREAS, Tardive Dyskinesia is characterized by random, involuntary, and uncontrollable movements of muscles in the face, trunk, and extremities; and

WHEREAS, Tardive Dyskinesia can develop long after a person begins treatment, or even after the discontinuation of treatment with antipsychotic medications; and

WHEREAS, once Tardive Dyskinesia develops, it is often permanent; and

WHEREAS, over 600,000 Americans have been diagnosed with Tardive Dyskinesia, with many more suffering, although unaware of the cause or having been misdiagnosed; and

WHEREAS, scientific breakthroughs and years of research have allowed the Food and Drug Administration to recently approve two new treatments for the symptoms related to Tardive Dyskinesia; and

WHEREAS, it is important to raise further awareness of this disorder throughout the community.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 152nd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that the week of May 1-7, 2023, is designated as “Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week” in the State of Delaware.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this General Assembly encourages all Delawareans to become better informed about Tardive Dyskinesia.

SYNOPSIS

This resolution designates the week of May 1-7, 2023, as "Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week" in Delaware.

Author: Senator Poore