HCR 15-MENTAL HEALTH MONTH; TARDIVE DYSK WEEK  4:31:57 PM CHAIR PRAX announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 15, Designating May 2024 as Mental Health Awareness Month; and designating May 5 - 11, 2024, as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week. 4:32:23 PM RILEY NYE, Staff, Representative Mike Prax, Alaska State Legislature, on behalf of the sponsor, the House Health and Social Services Standing Committee, on which Representative Prax serves as chair, explained that HCR 15 would shine a light on mental health awareness. He noted that a large portion of Alaskans have a mental health condition. He explained that HCR 15 would designate may as mental Health awareness month, and this would allow for mental health to become a priority in Alaska. 4:34:12 PM CHAIR PRAX opened public testimony on HCR 15. 4:35:33 PM ANN RINGSTAD, Executive Director, National Alliance on Mental Illness Alaska, Testified in support of HCR 15. She said that NAMI's mission is to eliminate stigma with mental illness, and complimented Mr. Nye's analysis. She said that more than half of the people in the United States Affected by Mental health issues didn't seek out treatment. She said anyone is susceptible to mental health issues, and that NAMI provides this resolution to increase awareness and treatment of mental health issues. She said this resolution is important for mental health awareness. 4:38:00 PM CHAIR PRAX asked about the statistics of anti-psychotic drugs. MS. RINGSTAD said there are many physiological effects of medication, and that many under prescription don't seek out help. CHAIR PRAX asked if there are alternative treatments to medication. MS. RINGSTAD said she is not a physician, but recommended people go to a provider to discuss alternative treatments. 4:39:14 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked if there is an understanding for the cause of the high rate of serious mental illness in Alaska. MS. RINGSTAD responded, "Who knows?" She said that all anyone can do is focus on awareness and direct resources towards treatment of those affected. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER noted that there are several different observance months and weeks, and he asked how making May mental health awareness month would impact mental health awareness and treatment. MS. RINGSTAD answered that it would give legislators an opportunity to bring the issue to light. 4:42:02 PM CHAIR PRAX, after ascertaining there was no one else who wished to testify, closed public testimony on HCR 15. The committee took an at-ease from 4:42 p.m. to 4:43. p.m. 4:43:01 PM REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE moved to report HCR 15 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, HCR 15 was reported out of the House Health and Social Services Standing Committee. 4:43:44 PM The committee took an at-ease from 4:43 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.