S.Res. 477 is a Senate resolution designating the first full week in May as "Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week." Tardive dyskinesia is a condition involving involuntary movements of the face, limbs, and torso that can develop as a side effect of antipsychotic medications used to treat serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The resolution highlights that approximately 800,000 American adults have tardive dyskinesia, though about 60 percent remain undiagnosed, and that certain populations—including older adults, Black individuals, and women—face higher risk. The resolution calls on healthcare providers, patients, and caregivers to increase awareness about the condition and promote regular screening for those taking antipsychotics, particularly given that FDA-approved treatments now exist to help manage symptoms. This is a symbolic measure with no direct funding or implementation requirements; it simply expresses the Senate's support for raising public and medical awareness of tardive dyskinesia and the importance of early detection.
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