News

At least 54 died since 2018 waiting for state hospital opening, senator calls for more tracking: Sen. Sarah Eckhardt filed Senate Bill 719, directing HHSC to conduct an extensive study of state hospital beds.

Texas Tech Health Science Center plans to grow its psychiatry services to national mental health treatment hub: To do that, the university plans to partner with the future Permian Basin Behavioral Health Center.

Wilco’s Matt Smith joining TJJD: Former Williamson County Juvenile Services Assistant Director Matt Smith will be joining the agency as the director of Statewide Youth Services Continuum, starting April 1.

Hays County prepping for expanded mental health services for defendants: An assisted outpatient treatment, or AOT, program is in the works for Hays County defendants.

Focus groups strategize investments for mental health care in Texas Panhandle communities: The Amarillo Area Foundation hosted the Panhandle Behavioral Health Alliance annual meeting.

San Antonio extends contract for mobile mental health services: During its Jan. 30 meeting, San Antonio City Council approved an ordinance renewing a $565,190 contract between San Antonio Metropolitan Health District and the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute for Texas’ San Antonio Mobile Mental Health Wellness Collaborative.

Nearly 900 Texas children are waitlisted for a mental health program billed as an alternative to foster care: Despite a long waitlist, the number of children served in the YES Waiver program has declined because of provider shortages.

Health care is key for youths getting out of prison. A new law helps them get it: A new federal law aims to better connect incarcerated children and young adults who are eligible for Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program to services before their release.

Bexar County wants $60M from state to repurpose old mental health hospital: With a new state-run psychiatric hospital open in San Antonio since last year, officials are looking at how to reuse the old facility as the increased demand for mental health care beds tests the county.

PermiaCare opens Larry Carroll Mental Health Crisis Respite Center: The center will provide people with mental health needs. It is also for adults over 18 years old and low risk of hurting themselves or others.

Harris County contends with shortage of mental health workers despite landmark state investment: With the 89th Texas Legislature now in session and COVID-19 relief funds from the American Rescue Plan expiring, advocates are asking Texas lawmakers to prioritize mental health.

Community Conversations: How El Paso police respond to mental health crises: KFOX14 Morning Anchor Salina Madrid talks with Officer Damien George from the El Paso Police Department's Crisis Intervention Team on how they respond and de-escalate emergency calls regarding mental health crises.

Panola County reps tackle deep-rooted issues at Mental Health Roundtable: Representatives from local law enforcement offices, schools and healthcare institutions gathered for the Panola County Mental Health Roundtable to connect and create meaningful discussions on community mental health services and resources.

City of Austin to dig into mental health response model: The Austin City Council voted unanimously on a resolution that calls on the City Manager’s Office to create a comprehensive report on how city staff respond to mental health calls.

Mental health calls turned violent: Advocates weigh in on crisis response in San Antonio: Last week, seven SAPD officers were injured in a shooting; the original call came in as a ‘suicide in progress’ with a gun.

Williamson County breaks ground on Juvenile Justice Center expansion: The county said the project would include 48 new beds, a new regional courtroom to focus on family services, learning and exercise areas, counseling and administrative areas, and a larger intake and release area.

Kyle PD creates new mental health position using grant money: KPD said the funding would help create a full-time mental health clinician position, including all necessary training and equipment.

Peer support could fill gaps in rural mental health coverage, but low pay challenges sustainability: While research shows that the peer support model is effective at improving clients’ well-being, experts say that low pay makes it difficult for people to remain in positions or create livable careers.

Officials pitch Brazoria County's first mental health hospital: The 115-bed mental health hospital is estimated to cost $115 million and would allow residents to avoid traveling out of the county to similar facilities.

Austin officials to examine sending police to mental health calls: The efforts come amid conversations about how and when police should respond to mental health calls – to make them safer for citizens and police.

Muleshoe City Council approves youth diversion plan for municipal courts: A bill requires that all municipal courts adopt the plan by the end of the year; it outlines strategies and processes to divert children from criminal prosecution.

Sugar Land Police Department receives 2 grants for mental health services: Sugar Land City Council approved the acceptance of a $171,920 crisis intervention grant from the Office of the Governor for two specialty, unmarked vehicles to use for the police department’s Crisis Intervention Team.

Chief Justice Nathan Hecht Named 2025 Texan of the Year: Chief Justice Nathan Hecht has been named the 2025 Texan of the Year by the Texas Legislative Conference, the renowned annual statewide policy and business forum celebrating its 59th year on March 27-28, 2025.

President and CEO of The Meadows Foundation Set to Retire: The Meadows Foundation announced today that Peter M. Miller will retire as president and chief executive officer on December 31, 2025, after six years of dedicated service.

Hutto establishes fund for juvenile diversion programs: City Council adopted an ordinance as part of the Texas Youth Diversion and Early Intervention Act Jan. 9. The act, established by Texas House Bill 3186, aims to give at-risk youth a chance to avoid the criminal justice system.

Galveston County Sheriff's Office expands mental health program: The Galveston County Sheriff's Office is effectively tripling the number of mental health deputies. This move comes amid rumors about the potential elimination of mental health deputies.

Behind the scenes of mental health calls at Austin's 911 call center: Last summer, a team of KUT producers spent 24 hours with the team as they answered calls from vulnerable Austin residents. 

Sugar Land officer elected vice president of Texas Crisis Intervention Team: Officer Brittany Moreno has been elected as the Vice President of the Texas Crisis Intervention Team Association. Previously serving as the Region 2 Director, Moreno has been a dedicated advocate for bridging the gap between law enforcement and mental health resources.

Bexar County mental health crisis response now available 24/7: The goal of expanding staffing overnight was for the team to respond to as many mental health calls as possible, freeing up patrol units to respond to other types of calls in the community.

Bandera Mental Health Deputies Bridge a Gap: The county has three certified mental health deputies, two at the sheriff’s department and one in the marshal’s office.

Mental Health Deputy navigates crisis during resource shortages: Deputy Andrew Lopez took on the role of Colorado County’s only active mental health deputy three years ago after the community raised money through the Colorado Valley Wellness Council to support this specialized position in law enforcement. 

County officials discuss plans for former San Antonio State Hospital: The Adaptive Reuse Study includes a master plan concept that breaks the campus into a high-acuity forensic psychiatric hospital with surrounding buildings and a low-acuity recovery village. 

Mental health advocates ask Texas lawmakers to replace expiring COVID-19 relief funding: Texas received $203.4 million in 2021 to help build community mental health programs at libraries and churches, among other efforts. Those funds expire Dec. 31.

Amid a $7 million deficit to Texas’ suicide hotline, thousands of calls are abandoned monthly: The state’s 988 suicide had the nation’s fifth highest rate of abandoned calls in August, the latest data available, amid a multi-million funding deficit that could worsen as federal dollars expire this year.

Mental Health Diversion Center could become a reality in Travis County in 2025: They want to locate the center on the campus of the Austin State Hospital off Guadalupe Street, but lawmakers would have to pass a bill allowing it.

Should Texas force homeless people with mental illness into treatment? Not without housing. | Editorial: Across the country, judges can commit individuals who are a threat to themselves or others, but some states also include the “gravely disabled,” meaning people who fail to provide for their own medical care and safety. 

Georgetown mental health officers see success, ultimately hope for more resources: The Georgetown Police Department launched its mental health unit early this year after getting approval from the City Council in January.

College Station Police expanding mental health response with grant funding: The $464,552 grant will fund two full-time police officers dedicated to handling mental health crisis calls and proactively assisting individuals to prevent future crises.

Boerne, Kendall County seek solutions for mental health crisis: As Texas grapples with a growing mental health crisis, Boerne police and the sheriff’s office are turning to mental health officers to support the community’s needs.

Governor Abbott Names Almeida Chair Of Family And Protective Services Council: The Council is charged with studying and making recommendations to the commissioner regarding the management and operation of the Department of Family and Protective Services.

Medics in Texas could soon do mental health detentions, a possible shift from police: A state representative from Austin recently filed a bill that would remove police from mental health emergency calls, replacing them with paramedics.

Law enforcement teams up with mental health professionals to reduce incarcerations: Like much of Texas, Matagorda County has a shortage of mental health care workers, but local law enforcement agencies are partnering with mental health experts to help people access services rather than end up in jail.

Mental health services offered in Nueces County to those at risk of jail time: The Nueces County Commissioners approved more than $2.5 million for the Nueces Center for Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities to continue advancing their Jail and Detention Center Diversion Programs.

Comal County breaks ground on mental health crisis stabilization facility in New Braunfels: A new local mental health facility will provide vital stabilization services to those in crisis and help relieve current strains on both emergency rooms and law enforcement officials.

New Crisis Response Team protecting streets of downtown San Antonio: The group is made up of former SAPD officers that will be protecting the downtown area unarmed.

Temple PD sees over 300 calls related to mental health crises from January to mid-November: Officers say that their position to help people through mental health crises plays a major role in the force.

Tarrant County Asks State To Fund Mental Health Facility: Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn has stated that the mental health of inmates has been a major issue for the jail. He said around 60% of inmates receive My Health My Resources mental health services through the county.

APD will not stop responding to mental health calls, will work toward ‘holistic’ response, chief says: The Austin Police Association released a statement the day after a judge sentenced Christopher Taylor to two years in prison on a deadly conduct charge calling on officers to stop responding to mental health calls.

Federal grants to boost crime prevention, crisis intervention efforts in East Texas: The grants are to implement “evidence-backed prevention and intervention strategies.”

At ‘homeless court,’ Houston’s unhoused population gets a second chance: Houston’s homeless court has been a success, with low recidivism rates — the vast majority of those who participate only ever do so once.

Tarrant County agrees to fund Jail Diversion Center through September as pandemic funding dwindles: The county’s budget for fiscal year 2025, passed in September, did not allocate any money to the diversion center. The county opened the center in 2022 with federal pandemic relief funding, which was set to run out in April or May.

New Bell County Diversion Center offers more options for individuals in mental health crises: The Bell County Diversion Center will serve as a Crisis Residential Unit, operated by Central Counties Services, to divert individuals with mental health conditions away from the criminal justice system and into mental healthcare.

Austin city leader and social worker call for more mental health professional staffing: 'We don't always need a badge and a gun': The conversation around how the city responds to calls for mental health problems has intensified.

North Texas is coordinating homeless and mental health response: First-of-its-kind alliance provides services when and where they’re needed most.

New Braunfels-area trio launching pilot program to provide mental healthcare to San Antonio homeless population: Through giving clients diagnoses and treatment, the program will help them get to a point where they can access services such as Medicare, Medicaid, housing programs and social security.

Inside the Long-Awaited Renovations of Texas’s Psychiatric Hospitals: As facilities get renovated or fully rebuilt across the state, mental health advocates argue that beautiful structures, thoughtful design, and access to fresh air have a role to play in treatment and recovery.

Inside the only college class in Texas to help prepare inmates for life after prison: Over six weeks, students in the class will talk about the effects of prison on their mental health, set tangible goals for life after they leave and learn how to find employment.

Questions surround Galveston County sheriff's long-time mental health unit as new sheriff comes in: Before Galveston County swears in a new sheriff, there's not just concern about the amount of staff leaving but questions about the fate of a mental health division that's been with the agency for nearly 50 years.

Texas State University awarded $1.3 million for crisis intervention programs: The $1,390,000 grant will go toward improving security through crisis intervention programs like violence prevention and crisis response training for law enforcement and school resource officers, firearm safety training for community members, and data collection, technology, and information-sharing to reduce violence.

Dell Medical School, Steve Hicks School of Social Work assist court-led youth diversion program in Travis County: Travis County increased funding on Oct. 29 for a court-led diversion program providing mental health support and mentorship to youth to reduce the likelihood of repeated exposure to the justice system.

City of Wichita Falls introduces new response team to respond to mental health crises: A police officer makes sure the scene of the call is safe while the medical technician performs a health assessment, develops a safety plan and may provide treatment options.

Hays County crisis team uses bucket truck to train on how to help people in mental health crisis: This is the first time the team has been working with the fire department to use their bucket truck, so they can fine tune how close to get and what equipment is needed.

Potter County regional mental health hospital to bring boost to medical workforce: The new Potter County regional mental health hospital is underway and West Texas A&M University is preparing its students for future job openings.

Local organization gets nearly $1.5M to expand mobile court services: The Downtown Austin Community Court's "mobile court" strives to break down barriers for people to access court, housing and social services.

Fayette County Sheriff's Office receives grant for mental health training: The Fayette County Sheriff's Office has been awarded a Community Impact Grant from The Red Door Fund for Mental Health and the Fayette Community Foundation.

Did San Antonio choose the right combination in its response to mental health calls?: SA CORE is a co-responder team, meaning police officers are a part of our crisis response equation. That can often be a point of criticism.

New Burke Center mental health facility has opened in Newton: The Burke Center cut the ribbon and held an open house with Newton County Sheriff Robert Burby in attendance.

Bexar County expands mental health crisis response team into 24/7 operation: S.M.A.R.T soft-launched the expansion in October. Now, crews are responding to mental health 911 calls around the clock.

San Antonio vs. Denver: Different systems with similar goals for mental health crisis response: KSAT rode along with the crisis response teams in San Antonio and Denver to see how each unit functions.

$12 million investment going toward Texoma mental health programs: The $12 million will be split into two categories: $8 million will go into the Regional Strategy and the other $4 million will go into the County Strategy.

Wichita Falls first responders launch Crisis Aid Response Team: This team consists of highly trained officers to respond to mental health calls throughout the city.

Marked or unmarked: How mental health crisis response teams roll out in San Antonio, Bexar County: Dressing down is a part of the formula for SA CORE and S.M.A.R.T.

TTUHSC working to provide mental health services to Lubbock criminal justice system: The program will allow students who graduated from their psychiatry residency to specialize in providing mental health services to those in the criminal justice system.

Nueces County Jail's inmate health care budget increases as costs continue to rise: Services are available to inmates thanks to a contracted provider of medical and mental health care.

‘We definitely need more teams’: City of San Antonio looks to expand its crisis mental health response: SA CORE responds to approximately 14% of mental health 911 calls each year, but city leaders said they’d like to see the program grow.

University of Houston, Fort Bend County to research mental health, housing instability: Researchers want to understand how unstable housing impacts mental health and use that information to improve the county's social services.

$8.65M facility aims to address growing mental health needs in Comal County: The new facility will be built by Comal County and operated by Hill Country Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities.

Construction soon to begin on county run mental health facility: Victoria County was awarded $40 million by the state to build the facility.

$85M state grant to fund new behavioral health facility in Pharr: D HR Health will be breaking ground on what it’s calling a new state-of-the-art behavioral health facility in Pharr through the Mental Health Inpatient Facility Grant Program.

New diversion center to help Nueces County enter new era of mental health services: Nueces Center for Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities is constructing a 32 bed facility that will provide mental health services to non-violent patients.

Deputy intervenes in attempted suicide at Bexar County jail: A deputy interrupted a 27-year-old woman's attempt to kill herself Sunday at the Bexar County jail.

Texans Ask: Did Y’all Serve? Identify Veterans to Connect with Services: Asking if someone served in the military can help connect them to veteran benefits and resources, education and employment opportunities, peer support, mental health care and more.

Brazoria County could get its 1st mental health hospital: Pearland City Council voted unanimously to sign a letter of support to ask the state Legislature to allocate funding to build Brazoria County’s first mental health hospital.

Diversion Center Hosts Open House: Bell County and Central Counties Services (CCS) hosted an Open House event at the Bell County Diversion Center. The facility will not be officially opening until next month, but visitors to the event were able to tour the space and learn how it will impact the community.

More RGV schools enroll for mental health telemedicine: As childhood depression and other mental health concerns rise in the Valley, more school districts are adopting a statewide program known as Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine’ – or TCHATT – to help youth deal with mental struggles.

24/7 emergency mental health professionals available in Bexar County: When a 911 call about a mental health crisis comes in, Bexar County’s Specialized Multidisciplinary Alternate Response Team, or S.M.A.R.T team, now sends more than an officer and EMS worker to the scene.

Bexar County allocates funds for addiction treatment, mental health services: The Bexar County Commissioners Court approved the use of funds from the American Rescue Plan Act for a mobile medical team and mental health recovery support services.

City cuts ribbon on latest permanent supportive housing project: City officials have officially cut the ribbon on the Bungalows at Century Park on Burnet Road, a 60-unit apartment community meant to specifically help single adults facing homelessness and those with disabilities.

Texas Tech Researchers Tackle Child and Adolescent Mental Health Emergency: Historically, Texas has ranked among the worst states in the U.S. for access to mental health resources for minors; an interdisciplinary team of researchers wants to change that.

$1.5M coming to Houston area to support justice-involved youth: The money will support youth who've been involved in court-ordered juvenile justice diversion programs or who are on probation and help increase their opportunities for success.

Texas Tech Researchers Help Equip Future Mental Health Professionals: Cynthia Phelps and Andrew Rose assist graduate students in gaining experience as they prepare to become licensed clinical social workers.

'A place to go and a place to stay': Mental health diversion center launches in Travis County: After a report in 2023 indicated that roughly 40% of all incarcerated people in Travis County Jail suffer from mental illness, county and city leaders put their heads and budgets together to launch a Crisis Care Diversion program aimed at keeping people with mental illness out of jail.

Tarrant County renews jail mental health care contract with MHMR, with questions from public: At the Commissioners Court meeting Tuesday, members of the public wondered whether MHMR and the jail are doing enough to protect people in the jail who have mental illnesses, intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), or both.

County wins grant for mental health team: The Young County Sheriff ’s Office won a $400,000 grant to create a mental health rapid response team.

Grant funded program designed to keep mentally ill out of jail: A grant received by Burke, which provides mental health services for 11 East Texas counties, will provide Nacogdoches County with two mental health deputies, law enforcement officers with specialized training in crisis intervention and mental health issues.

Hill Country MHDD breaks ground on behavioral health facility: Organizers say it will open in about 18 months.

Texas children are at risk, due to lack of quality childcare, access to mental health services: El Paso's leading child advocates gave El Paso an average grade of a C for how it is doing to ensure its children are secure and can be successful in life.

New Federal Rules Expand Access to Mental Health Services for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Improvements in federal protections highlight the growing need for enhancements in training for clinicians providing mental health support to people with IDD.

New phone line in San Antonio to assist those with mental health struggles: The partnership with Bexar County has led to more than $2 million in ARPA funds to sustain operations of the warmline.

Travis County opens center to help keep people experiencing a mental health crisis out of jail: The Crisis Care Diversion Pilot Program comes in response to a county-commissioned report that showed at least 40% of Travis County’s jail population has a mental health diagnosis, with many of those individuals repeatedly cycling through the justice system.

Hays County Commissioners Court discusses APA! funding, accepts mental health grant: The court accepted approximately $452 thousand in grant money from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to fund an Assisted Outpatient Treatment Program.

Victoria County secures land for $40M mental health facility near airport: The county plans to construct a 40-bed mental health facility on a 10-acre plot near the airport. 

Lubbock Police Crisis Intervention Team explain mental health crisis response: The Lubbock Police Department has been working on growing its Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) which helps in crisis.

$8.8M in federal dollars to expand Texas mental health, substance abuse services: Across Texas, 15 community health centers will get a boost of federal dollars to help Texans and address the nation’s mental health and opioid crises.

Smith County commissioners approve $4M for UT Health mental health facility: The facility will expand the opportunities for inpatient and outpatient programs for mental health crisis care for Smith County patients.

Governor Abbott Announces Construction Of New North Texas State Hospital In Wichita Falls: Governor Abbott and the 88th Texas Legislature approved $452 million in funding for the inpatient psychiatric hospital, which is slated for completion in late 2027.

McMullen County Commissioners discuss mental health services: McMullen County will host a SIM Mapping Workshop on October 29 & 30.

Travis County and partners to launch jail diversion program with ribbon cutting: In its ongoing effort to expanding mental health services, Travis County is partnering with other groups like the city of Austin, Central Health and Integral Care to launch a new pilot program designed to divert those in crisis from jail.

Two announced as GPD mental health unit: The Greenville Police Department on Friday afternoon introduced a pair of veteran officers who will serve as officers with Greenville PD's mental health unit.

How San Antonio churches can lead in ministering to mental health needs: The Congregational Collective guides the faith community in how to help treat mental health.

SMPD officers undergo mental health training: The San Marcos Police Department (SMPD) will require all patrol officers to complete a 40-hour crisis communication class by the end of 2025.

Judge Villarreal Elected to Head State Bar Judicial Section: Serving his second full-term as judge of Webb County Court-at-Law II, Judge Villarreal has served on the Judicial Section board of directors since 2021. 

Texas Veteran Suicide Prevention Day is September 22: How to Help Those in Crisis: The Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) wants to help inform veterans, their families, friends and communities of the risk factors, warning signs and resources available for those in crisis.

Burke Mental Health Services celebrates 50 years: Since 1974, a dozen East Texas counties, including Angelina, Nacogdoches, and Trinity, have had Burke lighting the path in East Texas for mental health and development disability care.

Texas leads push for faster certification of mental health professionals: Other states look to Texas as the state psychology board pushes against the new national licensing requirements.

Wichita Falls PD mental health begins beta phase: The Wichita Falls PD is rolling out its new Multidisciplinary Behavioral Health Response Team this September as they iron out wrinkles on how this team will operate.

Laredo, Webb County to offer mental health services at Salinas Center: The medical services will be provided through the Laredo Public Health Department for a period of two years.

National Alliance on Mental Illness releases guide on navigating mental health care for children: The new book, “You Are Not Alone for Parents and Caregivers” was written by child psychiatrist and NAMI Associate Medical Director Dr. Christine M. Crawford.

Travis County's first-ever youth mental health crisis center opens in Mueller: Intended for young individuals, ages 13-17, the mental health program offers an alternative to psychiatric hospitalization.

Killeen Police Department adds mental health staff to better serve crisis calls: Thanks to the KPD Mental Health Co-Responder Program, the department will now have a qualified mental health professional go into routine police operations dealing with mental health concerns.

‘Dreaming big’: Fort Worth nonprofit unveils mobile mental health care unit: The nonprofit CHAMP — also known as Community Healing and Mental Health Project — is launching a mobile mental health care unit to address the needs of children and families in several Fort Worth communities.

Mental health jobs to grow 3 times the rate of all US jobs over the next decade: Employment growth in the mental health field — for psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, counselors, psychiatric aides and social workers — is expected to be triple the projection for a typical US job.

What Texas can learn from crisis mental health care in Arizona: Texas officials look to Arizona cities when creating crisis mental health centers.

Texas Kicks Off Construction of Replacement State Hospital in Terrell: Gov. Greg Abbott announced HHSC is beginning construction of a new Terrell State Hospital building that will provide inpatient psychiatric care to North Texans.

Prison facility reopening in Central Texas as first ‘Innovation’ Unit in the state: The facility is expected to offer second chances to inmates and the city of Bartlett.

Travis County mental health diversion committee offers resources for those in need: The program looks to provide psychiatric help for those with mental illnesses who are accused of committing minor offenses.

'We need to kill the stigma because the stigma is killing us' | Hays County EMS union secures expansion of mental health resources: The Hays County EMS Association said its expansion of mental health resources is in honor of coworker and friend Hayden Henshaw, who died in 2020.

Texas juvenile justice board pushes back after damning DOJ report on abuse in youth detention system: The governing board of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department is disputing the accuracy of a report by the U.S. Department of Justice alleging widespread mental, physical and sexual abuse in the state’s youth facilities.

Comal County Commissioners approve $8.65 million contract to begin mental health facility construction in New Braunfels: The mental health facility will be built by the Comal County Sheriff’s Office and detention center off of West San Antonio Street in New Braunfels.

Born out of tragedy, Mental Health Connection builds on 25-year legacy in Tarrant County: Mental Health Connection of Tarrant County is an organization made up of nearly 60 members that collaborate to develop health services and address emerging needs in the Fort Worth area.

UT Tyler Professor wins $284K grant to study mental health in rural youth: Dr. Angela Preston of U.T. Tyler’s School of Nursing will tackle mental health in rural kids after receiving a grant from the Texas Children’s Mental Health Care Consortium.

Pathways to Hope Conference aims to openly discuss mental health: Healthcare workers and faith leaders say having conversations about mental illness is more important than ever.

Mental health center opens for Austin teens in crisis: Most kids are expected to stay at the respite center for an average of five days. During that time, they will have access to a variety of health services and resources, depending on their needs.

State leaders provide update on state mental health hospital in Amarillo: Rep. Four Price, R-Amarillo, announced the completion of a land lease between Texas Health and Human Services Commission and The Texas A&M University System that will provide a location for the new 75-bed Panhandle State Hospital in Amarillo.

Rural Texas emergency departments face mounting mental health crisis: People experiencing mental health crises are often forced to seek care in the emergency room of rural hospitals, where they face long waits for treatment and use resources that are needed by patients with critical conditions.

Andrews Center leader to be honored for her efforts in suicide prevention care: According to a Facebook post from the Andrews Center, this award is one of only four such awards distributed statewide by the Texas Suicide Prevention Council.

Panhandle school districts using resources to combat rise in student mental health issues: With the rise of mental health issues in students, school districts are using resources through Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center called TCHATT to combat the rise.

Passing a new competency law won’t be enough, NM Supreme Court justice says: The proposed law would allow courts to order people who are accused of felony-level crimes and are found incompetent to stand trial to participate in community competency restoration programs, without necessarily requiring them to be in a locked facility.

League City Police Department's mental health unit expects to grow, seeks grant funding: In February, League City Police Department launched a mental health response unit to be able to respond to calls involving a person experiencing a mental health crisis. Months later, the police department is calling the program a success.

How a lack of supervisors keeps new mental health workers from entering the field: Future Texas therapists must complete internships to start their careers, but there’s not enough providers to mentor all of the students.

San Antonio turns to faith leaders amid mental health access challenges: Delayed or forgone mental health treatment is often linked to insurance status and medical debt, fueling a treatment gap that cuts across demographic groups.

Rural Youth Mental Health Receives Research Award: The University of Texas at Tyler received a $284,518 award to study the mental health needs of rural youth in Texas.

Bipartisan bill would create mental health hotline for first responders: When you’re in danger, first responders are first on the scene to help. But the work brings along a lot of stress. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced a bill to expand mental health services for first responders.

SA CORE teams expand to 24/7 mental health coverage of San Antonio: The San Antonio Community Outreach and Resiliency Effort (SA CORE) program launched 24/7 coverage on July 1, two years after it was first piloted with a single team that only covered the center of the city.

Dallas-based recovery program, APAA, uses peer mentorship to help those facing addiction, mental health challenges: All APAA (Association of Persons Affected by Addiction) staff have experienced addiction or mental health challenges; it helps them to provide resources, outreach, and better connect with those they serve.

Justice Department finds widespread physical, sexual and mental abuse in Texas juvenile facilities: Probes into the five facilities began in 2021 after the department received a complaint from two advocacy groups about the conditions inside. 

NEISD creates emergency response team with ex-military, SWAT-trained personnel: San Antonio’s North East Independent School District's eight-member Emergency Response Team will rapidly deploy to contain, control and neutralize any threat to the safety and welfare of students, staff and visitors if there is a life-threatening incident.

Travis County Juvenile Probation Department proposes expansion of youth juvenile facility: The expansion is a two-phase plan. Phase one includes the construction of new buildings on the complex, adding 32 non-secure beds, 16 transitional-living beds and a multipurpose community center. 

6 Essential Supports for Behavioral Health Crisis Responders: Localities can help multidisciplinary teams succeed by strengthening emergency care systems.

Juvenile detention center board to find interim director within weeks: Dallas County’s Juvenile Board met behind closed doors earlier this week and agreed to accept Darryl Beatty’s resignation after a surprise state inspection found alarming conditions.

Harlingen residents against psychiatric expansion to state facility: The $120 million project aims to expand the current Rio Grande State Center facility. 50 new bed units in a maximum-security setting would be added to the existing 55-bed units with non-maximum security.

Texas mental health advocates push to expand 988 crisis call services in San Antonio: Bexar County residents who call 988 are often routed to a call center in Austin then redirected to the Center for Health Care Services in San Antonio for assistance.

Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health hosts workshop aimed at creating a County Mental Health Law plan: During this workshop, participants from El Paso County are to discuss the processes that someone who is involved in the court system with a mental illness goes through.

Rural areas of Central Texas experiencing mental health shortage: Mental health shortages in rural areas are impacting people in Hillsboro, as some have to drive to larger cities like Dallas and Austin to get help.

Amarillo College, Potter County partner to offer mental health training to first responders: Potter County commissioners agreed to use $10,000 of federal stimulus funds for mental health training for first responders in the Panhandle region.

A look at the Texas mental health workforce shortage: Today, 246 of Texas’ 254 counties are wholly or partly designated by the federal government as “mental health professional shortage areas,” and that’s in a state where roughly 5 million people do not have health insurance. 

Texas Association of Behavioral Health Systems Created to Address Access, Funding Crisis: A coalition of freestanding behavioral health systems created the Texas Association of Behavioral Health Systems (TABHS) to serve as a unified voice that's mission is to help Texas policymakers identify solutions for addressing the state's behavioral health crisis.

Positive Partnership: Students Provide Mental Health Support for the Community: A virtual practicum opportunity for social work students at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio helps them gain field experience while providing in-demand crisis help to those in need.

Woman with mental illness released from Texas prison, vanishes on 1,400-mile bus trip to Rochester: The woman was released from Carswell Federal Prison in Fort Worth. It’s a medical prison for women, including those with mental health issues. The prison gave Rogers $120 and a bus ticket for the 1,400-mile trip home to Rochester, New York.

Advocates Fight to Protect Texas Man With Intellectual Disability from Execution: The Arc of the United States, The Arc of Texas, Disability Rights Texas, and the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD), along with law firm Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, have filed a “friend-of-the-court” brief urging the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to protect people with intellectual disability from unconstitutional executions.

'Sad to hear it': Waco mental health clinic to close after 20 years: Helping Others Take Initiative is closing its doors, leaving patients to find new places to seek mental health services.

Family Care Center's Westover Hills Clinic Now Open: Serving Mental Health Needs in San Antonio: Offering a range of treatments, including therapy, psychiatric services and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), the new clinic is committed to providing personalized care to support the diverse needs of the San Antonio community.

Taking the Helm West Texas Centers names Rodney Jones new CEO: Jones succeeds long-time West Texas Centers CEO Shelley Smith, who retired July 12 after nearly 40 years at the helm of the agency.

Opinion: Texas must do more for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities: "In recent years, the Texas Legislature has made historic investments in mental health programs. While these efforts are commendable, services for individuals with IDD (intellectual and developmental disabilities) remain critically underfunded, creating a crisis that threatens the well-being of one of our most vulnerable populations."

Fort Worth Police and Fire Departments Seek Partners for R3 Wellness Program: The departments are looking for organizations to provide free services such as financial literacy, marriage and family counseling, addiction support, and general physical health.

Sherman PD teams up with Texoma Community Center on mental health co-response team: The TCC has qualified mental health professionals stationed at the police department seven days a week. The program’s goal is to get effective mental health care to those in crisis faster.

Mental health clinics across the US are helping Latinos bridge language and access barriers: Mental health experts, community clinics and politicians are increasingly calling attention to barriers Latinos might face in seeking treatment — like the lack of mental health professionals who are Latino and speak Spanish or other languages — and working to create new programs to address access issues.

5 challenges faced by Texans with intellectual or developmental disabilities, their families: Community members gathered Thursday at the El Paso Community College Administrative Services Center to take part in a discussion about the challenges Texans with intellectual or developmental disabilities, or IDD, and their families face.

Community activists sound the alarm on Dallas County Juvenile Detention Center: "House of horrors": Allegations include not being allowed to shower, unreasonable amounts of time spent in solitary confinement and more.

Sherman Medical Center closes its behavior health unit: The hospital decided moving resources to mammography, dialysis, and new surgical equipment would better serve Texoma.

He lingered for months in jail. Long waits for Texas mental health beds mean he’s not alone: A Tarrant County man who has intellectual and developmental disabilities and a schizophrenia diagnosis was declared incompetent to stand trial. He stayed in jail six months until he was taken to a state supported living center.

UNT Dallas Pioneers Online Grad Degree in Criminal Justice To Tackle Mental Health Crisis: Dallas County Judge Robert W. Francis says that jails and prisons have "effectively become America's largest mental health providers." UNT Dallas' new online master's degree in Criminal Justice takes a forward-thinking approach to education in the field.

Shelby County Sheriff’s Office to receive state funds to aid in mental health crises: Law enforcement officers are being called to an increasing number of incidents involving mental health crises. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office will now receive state money to aid their responses and offer care options.

Homicide in Travis Co. highlights need for stronger mental health services, leaders say: A 19-year-old woman admitted to killing one family member, trying to kill another and planning to kill one more. Investigators said she called 911 saying “My mission was to assassinate somebody, but it went wrong.”

Dumas launches behavioral health team to tackle mental health challenges: Behavioral health care providers can determine whether the individual is a danger to self or others and inform law enforcement on whether civil or criminal measures can be safely employed.

Family claims Texas prison failed to safely manage schizophrenic man's release: A woman says her brother who has schizophrenia was released at a Greyhound Bus Station, but he got lost and never made it to his destination. 

San Antonio’s mental health crisis response team will respond to 911 calls 24/7: San Antonio Community Outreach and Resiliency Effort, or SA CORE, changed its response hours at the request of City Council.

Texas to begin construction this year on seven new psychiatric hospital projects: The construction begins after lawmakers have allocated $2.5 billion to modernize and increase access to inpatient psychiatric care in Texas.

A mental health program for police officers is now available statewide:  Police chiefs across North Texas say that programs that address diseases like depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental illnesses could save officers' lives.

Texas HHSC shares plans for $159 million Panhandle State Hospital in Amarillo: The Panhandle State Hospital will hold 50 forensic (justice involved) beds and 25 civil (court mandated) beds and would be located near the Amarillo Medical District.

'Pretty bad’: Whistleblower shares pictures of nasty conditions inside Dallas County’s juvie lockup: Under state law, juveniles are supposed to have 10 hours of “function” time outside their cells, like going to school or doing activities. But whistleblowers say that's not happening frequently.

Texas improves 988 hotline answer rate but still lags behind: By the numbers: 84% of the 18,800 people who called Texas' 988 hotline in May connected with a counselor, according to data from the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Fayette County Sheriff's Office holds mental health class for officers: The course aims to teach Peace Officers about managing their physical, mental, emotional and social wellness/health, and to break down the stigma of mental health and seeking help in the law enforcement profession.

Suicides in Texas Prisons Have Dramatically Increased: Data from the Texas Justice Initiative shows that prison suicides in the state have nearly doubled over the last four years, from an average of 28.6 a year from 2005-2019 to 56 a year from 2020-2023.

Representative Carter Secures $748,000 for Copperas Cove Mental Health Response Team: Cove officials said it’s the largest grant ever received by CCPD, and they are happy to accept it.

HHSC to Host Community Information Session on $120 Million Rio Grande State Center Expansion Project: The Texas Health and Human Services Commission is inviting the public to attend an information session on Thursday, June 20. The community information session will offer an overview of state hospital system improvements and provide the public an opportunity to ask questions about the facility.

Mental Health Diversion Pilot to Begin by August: By the end of August, Integral Care will expand its Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES) walk-in clinic to 24/7 care, increasing peer support services and access to doctors that can prescribe psychiatric medication. 

KCBD Investigates The Mental Health Crisis: New multimillion, maximum-security psychiatric center coming to Lubbock: Patients will receive competency restoration services at the 50-bed inpatient facility; patients are going to come to the center through a commitment of the court.

Williamson County strives to close gaps in access to mental health care: The county’s proactive approach prevents or redirects many individuals in the midst of a mental crisis from seeing a jail cell, instead allowing them to receive the appropriate help they need during a critical time.

Mental health episode preceded League City shooting, witness says: A 43-year-old man was in the throes of a mental-health crisis when he shot his father dead in the back yard of the family home, according to an arrest affidavit.

Uvalde Police announce new position to help deal with mental health and family violence: Detective Corporal Jessica Zamora will follow up on anyone who has experienced a mental health crisis or family violence situation.

Lubbock County sheriff requesting mental health deputies: Sheriff Kelly Rowe met with the commissioners court in a budget workshop where he told the court that his office responded to 6,669 calls in 2020, and that number increased to 10,539 calls in 2023. Rowe said 285 of last year’s calls were related to a suicidal subject.

Inmate Deaths in North TX Put Spotlight on Mental Health: Over the last four years, three inmates in Tarrant County jail have died from severe dehydration despite having access to water in their cells.

Center to break ground on mental health facility: Hill Country Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Centers CEO Tod Citron said construction on a 32-bed behavioral health center should break ground in July in Uvalde. 

Texas is investing in better mental health (op-ed): Mental health is Texas' foremost public health challenge today and a leading contributor to disability and death, especially among adolescent Texans. Compounded by historic underservice, Texas has faced an uphill battle when it comes to providing sufficient mental health resources to its growing population, but state leaders – including the University of Texas System – are committed to turning the tide.

Harris County plans for sustainable mental health care programs: Harris County has been ambitiously building its continuum of behavioral health care and pursuing innovative solutions. This proactive approach aims to ensure the sustainability of essential mental health services for its residents in the long term. 

Brazos County takes next step in creating new mental health court: Brazos County is on track to join the ranks of Texas counties implementing specialized mental health court programs, aiming to reshape how justice is administered for individuals with mental illness or intellectual disabilities.

Amarillo Area Foundation grants over $1M to mental, behavioral health care organizations: The Amarillo Area Foundation awarded $1,199,400 to health focused organizations and programs in the first discretionary grant cycle of 2024. Ten of the 18 non-profits awarded during this cycle are health focused including Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute for Texas and Aspire a Mindful Place.

Police encounters and individuals with mental health disorders: Training imperatives: Proper departmental training and officer implementation of best practices ensures those encounters with individuals in mental crisis end safely and not as another headline.

“Grateful to be alive”: Clubhouse programs take pressure off overwhelmed Texas mental health hospitals: Thousands of people are discharged from Texas mental health hospitals yearly, and so-called step-down programs like clubhouses can help them integrate back into the community.

'It takes all of us': Helping understand Lubbock's mental health system: While Lubbock has numerous facilities and personnel to help individuals maintain a healthy mental health condition, a mental health crisis could come with or without warning.

Mobile Mental Health Unit in the works for the area: The conversation around mental health has been at the forefront since the pandemic with experts across the country looking for more solutions to provide better care. Local entities in Wichita Falls have been working together to possibly fix that need in the community.

Missouri City submits grant application for crisis intervention team: Missouri City City Council approved submitting an application for a Community Oriented Policing Services, or COPS, Promoting Access to Crisis Teams Grant to fund creating a crisis intervention team for two years.

Houston homeless population reporting more mental illness than national average: Over a third of individuals who experienced homelessness in the Greater Houston area reported mental illness in 2023; however, state data shows mental health resources aren’t being used by most experiencing homelessness.

Hutchins police officer declares "Jesus" to get child from father having mental health crisis: Kenneth Knotts's family is suing the UT Southwestern Hospital Police for his death after he was brought to the hospital after a mental health crisis at a Love's Truckstop.

This high-security juvenile detention center in North Texas just became a foster home for dogs: Sixteen youths and up to six dogs live in what they call the BARK dorm. BARK stands for Building Attachment and Resilience K-9. 

Bexar County addresses a 33% rise in suicide rates with wellness conference: The Center for Health Care Services hosted its 'behavioral health and wellness conference' for anyone in need of services ranging from 'substance use' and recovery, to youth mental health and more.

Harris County Mental Health Program faces uncertain future amid financial concerns: Harris County Commissioners have placed in indefinite limbo a program aimed at lightening the burden on police by delivering mental health services in non-emergency, non-violent scenarios across the community.

Governor Abbott Announces Over $44 Million In Grants To Serve Veterans And Their Families: This is the largest amount of grant funding awarded in the history of the TVC and is anticipated to serve more than 41,000 veterans and their families.

Tarrant County, Texas, Funds Mental Health Alert System: The software will integrate with existing case management systems and help identify defendants with mental illness or intellectual disabilities. It will ensure the county meets state law mandating such defendants be identified early.

Greater Longview Optimal Wellness program receives $5M grant: The goal of the program is for people to properly utilize medical providers and have access to those services instead of having to call 911 or visit an emergency room.

San Antonio mental health response program in middle of rapid expansion: The SA CORE pilot program began in spring 2022, now it's citywide and soon-to-be 24/7.

HCSO: Deputy shoots man who charged at him with metal baseball bat in north Harris County: A woman called 911 and said her 30-year-old son was possibly going through a mental health crisis and was causing problems. 

Potter County agrees to establish Panhandle Regional Veterans Treatment Court: This will give veterans who are facing criminal charges in neighboring counties the treatment needed, and have their mental health care taken over by the Potter County Courts.

Comal County deputy shoots armed man during mental health episode: Officials said the man was having a mental episode when he pulled out a handgun. A deputy pulled out his weapon and fired, hitting the man.

Travis County mental health diversion program ready to launch: The Mental Health Diversion Pilot Program in Travis County is a step closer to launching after a May 14th Commissioners meeting.

Patients can move into the new Austin State Hospital summer 2024, officials say: State and local leaders celebrated the completion of the new Austin State Hospital, which took years and cost hundreds of millions of dollars to build. 

Collaborative partnership to assist mental health needs: Project Opportunity, which was funded by a $25,000 grant from Bank of America, is a collaborative partnership that will allow Texas Tech Health El Paso physician residents to provide services to community members at the Opportunity Center using remote video technology starting in June.

Texas A&M professor leads mental health training initiative in South Bexar County: The South Bexar County Mental Health Awareness Project focuses on training educators at all levels to recognize signs of mental health struggles in students. 

Governor Abbott Appoints Six To Governing Board Of The Texas Indigent Defense Commission: Hon. J.R. Woolley of Waller is a justice of the peace for Waller County and a JCMH Commissioner. 

Family of mentally ill man wants answers about his death in Tarrant County Jail custody: On Feb. 14, 63-year-old Harold Kent Roberts died at the jail after experiencing a “medical emergency” early that morning, the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

West Texas Centers Provides Resources For Mental Health: West Texas Centers is celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month by calling attention to the numerous resources available for people living in their 23-county catchment area. 

East Texas institutions to receive flexible grants for mental health services: According to a release, the Hogg Foundation awarded their Reliable Flexible Funding for Mental Health and Well-being (RFF) grants for mental health organizations throughout Texas that are “historically under-resourced.”

Land Swap Helps Bring Mental Health Hospital to Amarillo: West Texas A&M University regents voted unanimously today to approve a land deal in Amarillo that will help to build the only state hospital for inpatient mental health care in the Panhandle.

KCBD Investigates The Mental Health Crisis: What to do when your loved one refuses to seek help: The Lubbock Police Department recognized the growing need for officers to have access to mental and behavioral health experts and learn more skills in areas like de-escalation.

East Texas summit emphasizes mental health treatment realities: In partnership with Andrews Center, the University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine held the inaugural East Texas Mental Health Summit on May 7.

Commissioners get timeline about new mental health diversion center pilot program: Travis County's hospital district said expanding services should begin by October.

Man believed to have been experiencing mental health crisis when he allegedly shot at deputies, barricaded himself in home: The 40-year-old suspect now faces aggravated assault charges after the incident in San Antonio.

HHSC to Host Grand Opening Ceremony at Austin State Hospital May 15: The Texas Legislature and Gov. Greg Abbott approved approximately $305 million in funding to construct the new hospital.

Mental illness, understaffing challenge Texas jails: Texas jail and mental health authorities have struggled for years to move people found incompetent to stand trial from jails to state hospitals for competency restoration.

HHSC Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Brenham State Supported Living Center: The Brenham State School opened in 1974 with about 300 employees and 400 beds. Since then, the facility has transitioned from serving mostly children with intellectual disabilities to providing care to adults.

‘Take action.’ Advocates urge release of Tarrant County inmate with mental health issues: A doctor’s evaluation filed in January found that Kaiyere Campbell lacked “sufficient present ability to consult with defense counsel with a reasonable degree of rational understanding” and/or “a rational as well as factual understanding of the proceedings” against him.

DA wants mental health records for Melissa Perez, San Antonio mother shot dead by police: Perez, 46, was killed June 23 at her Southwest Side apartment. Family members said she was schizophrenic. Two ex-SAPD officers are charged with murder in her death, a third with aggravated assault.

Brazos County Commissioners Asked To Recruit A Mental Health Facility: A local attorney who represents children in the Texas child protective services system asks Brazos County commissioners how he and others can do to get a local mental health facility.

Texas’ Mental Health Court Programs (podcast): Rocky Dhir talks with Judge Brent Carr about his long years of service in the Tarrant County Mental Health Court, which had the overarching goal of improving outcomes for people with mental illness impacted by Texas’ justice system.

East Texas Mental Health Summit aims to address mental health disparities: Organizers' goals are to address the rising suicide rates in East Texas and to bring people together to talk about mental health.

Hogg Foundation for Mental Health provides grants to Fort Worth, Arlington area mental health organizations: The foundation will invest $5 million over 5 years in reliable, flexible funding to multiple historically under-resourced community-based mental health organizations.

Governor Abbott Announces $34 Million Behavioral Health Campus Project In Uvalde: Governor Greg Abbott today announced a $34 million project to build a behavioral health campus in Uvalde dedicated to providing on-site care to children and adults experiencing mental health crises in 32 counties in the surrounding area. 

Lawsuit names 4 UT Southwestern police officers sued over in-custody death: Kenneth Knotts, an Austin resident, was taken to UT Southwestern Nov. 29, 2022 after city of Hutchins police determined he was suffering a mental health crisis while stopped on the side of the road with a flat tire.

Montgomery County facility for people with disabilities plans $2.5M expansion: The long-standing Montgomery County community Bridgewood Farms for teens and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities is moving forward with a new leader and renewed vision for its future.

HHSC to Host Community Information Session on $452 Million Construction Project at North Texas State Hospital – Wichita Falls: The new hospital will feature state-of-the-art therapeutic spaces in a secure environment for patients and will have separate spaces for adult and adolescent patients. 

Family of man killed in SWAT incident says he was suffering from mental health crisis: The sister of the suspect killed in a SWAT standoff in West El Paso last week said her brother was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and was suffering from a mental health crisis. 

Lawsuit filed against Llano County, LCSO in shooting death of man having ‘mental health crisis’: A lawsuit was recently filed against the Llano County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) in connection with a response to an October 2022 mental health call that led to the death of Justin Harrod. 

Facility designed for individuals with intellectual, developmental disabilities benefits Orange County: Spindletop Center opened its new sensory room designed for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities; it a space with special equipment designed to help an individual with sensory challenges learn strategies to cope with external stimuli.

Montgomery County courts begin new mental health graduation program: County Court-At-Law 4 serves as the base for the mental health treatment court for Montgomery County. The court handles individuals who have committed criminal conduct but have been identified as having significant mental health issues that contributed to the conduct.

Mental illness issues draw attention at recent workshop, commissioners meeting (Hunt County): Members of the North Texas Behavioral Health Authority conducted a workshop attended by local mental health providers, school officials, police and criminal justice officials, Texas Department of Health and Human Services staff and others involved in mental health issues in Hunt County.

Texas opens new psychiatric hospital in San Antonio: State officials opened the doors recently to a new psychiatric hospital in San Antonio, replacing an aging facility and increasing capacity.

Texas is struggling to diversify its mental health workforce as the state becomes less white: Despite the nation’s growing diversity, the mental health workforce is still predominantly white and English-speaking.

What’s needed to make a diversion center successful? (Travis County): Law enforcement, prosecutors and elected officials point to the creation of a diversion center as a solution to address crime related to mental health and homelessness.