WHEREAS, serious mental illnesses like bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia often require treatment with antipsychotic medications for effective management; and

WHEREAS, while prolonged antipsychotic use may be essential for the treatment of certain conditions, it is associated with tardive dyskinesia (TD), a condition marked by uncontrollable, random, and repetitive movements of the face, torso, limbs, or extremities; and

WHEREAS, people at higher risk of TD include those older than 55 years, African Americans, women, individuals with mood or substance use disorders, intellectual disabilities, or central nervous system injuries, and those with high cumulative antipsychotic exposure; and

WHEREAS, approximately 60% of the estimated 800,000 U.S. adults living with TD remain undiagnosed, and even mild TD symptoms can be stigmatizing and impair physical, social, and emotional well-being, underscoring the urgency of early screening, detection, and intervention; and

WHEREAS, the best approach is prevention, which begins with minimizing polypharmacy and using antipsychotics only when necessary and at the lowest possible effective dose; and

WHEREAS, the American Academy of Neurology emphasizes early recognition and routine TD screening in their clinical guidelines for the treatment of TD, and individuals treated with medications known to cause TD or experiencing abnormal movements should consult their healthcare providers to assess TD risk, receive a TD evaluation, and determine appropriate treatment together; and

WHEREAS, clinically proven treatment for TD can provide options for symptom management and improved quality of life for many individuals living with TD; and

حيث أن أسبوع التوعية باضطراب خلل الحركة المتأخر يسلط الضوء على هذا الاضطراب ويتيح للجمهور والمجتمع الطبي أن يصبحوا أكثر اطلاعاً على هذا الاضطراب; 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize May 4-10, 2025, as TARDIVE DYSKINESIA AWARENESS WEEK in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all of our citizens.