ATLANTA – State Representative Sharon Cooper (R-Marietta), chair of the House Public Health Committee, seeks to recognize Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) Awareness Week as a part of Mental Health Awareness Month throughout May. During the 2023 legislative session, Chair Cooper introduced House Resolution 317 to recognize May 1 – 7, 2023, as TD Awareness Week in Georgia to help increase education and raise awareness about the condition.
“In Georgia, more than 1.4 million adults in the state live with a mental illness,” said Chair Cooper. “It is critical that we support and remember that those living with a mental illness who take antipsychotics for a prolonged time may develop or already have TD. It is so important that we continue to raise awareness around this involuntary movement disorder, which may have an impact on patients physically, emotionally and socially. We continue to use this time as a reminder to educate our citizens about mental health.”
The goal of TD Awareness Week is to help raise awareness and support for people living with this involuntary movement disorder. Some people living with a mental health condition may also experience TD, which is associated with taking certain mental health medicines, such as antipsychotics, that treat bipolar disorder, depression, schizoaffective disorder or anxiety disorder.
According to Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc., TD affects approximately 600,000 people in the U.S. The uncontrollable movements of TD may appear mild, moderate or severe and can occur in one or more areas. These movements are often seen in the face, torso and/or other body parts.
For more information on HR 317, please click here.
Representative Sharon Cooper represents the citizens of District 45, which includes portions of Cobb County. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 1996 and currently serves as Chairman of the Public Health Committee. She also serves on the Special Committee on Healthcare and the Human Relations & Aging, Judiciary Non-Civil, Regulated Industries and Rules committees. She is also an Ex-Officio member of the Health Committee.
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