Each year, May is designated as National Mental Health Awareness Month. This awareness month began to educate communities about mental health conditions and provide support along with resources to those individuals living with mental illness. Millions across the country are affected by mental illness each year. According to the Texas Statewide Behavioral Health Coordinating Council, over 3.3 million adults in Texas are living with a mental illness. Furthermore, 61% of adults in Texas who need mental health treatment do not receive any. Unfortunately, children are affected by mental illness as well. According to the Texas Health & Human Services Commission, one out of four children will have a mental illness during childhood. Therefore, breaking down the stigma attached to mental illness through education and outreach is a key goal of National Mental Health Awareness Month.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), a mental illness is a condition that affects a person’s thinking, feeling, behavior or mood. Mental health conditions are far more common and come in many different forms. As a result of this, it is important to look for common signs of mental illness in adults and adolescents. To learn more about the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and find more information about mental health conditions, please visit SAMHSA. For more resources please visit the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. For more mental health resources in Texas, visit Mental Health Texas.
In Texas, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) contracts with Local Mental Health Authorities (LMHAs) across the state to provide mental health services to communities. The Behavioral Health Center of Nueces County delivers mental health services to those who live in Nueces County. You can learn more by visiting the Behavioral Health Center of Nueces County. Additionally, visit the Coastal Plains Community Center, which provides mental health services in Aransas County.
If you have questions regarding any of the information mentioned in this week’s article, please do not hesitate to call my Capitol or District Office. Please always feel free to contact my office if you have any questions or issues regarding a Texas state agency, or if you would like to contact my office regarding constituent services. As always, my offices are available at any time to assist with questions, concerns, or comments (Capitol Office, 512-463-0672; District Office, 361-949-4603).
– State Representative Todd Hunter, District 32
Rep. Hunter represents Aransas County and Nueces County (Part). He can be contacted at todd.hunter@house.state.tx.us or at 512-463-0672.
