TEXAS MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

TXMHR MEETING NEEDS

According to a study conducted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 20.6% of adults in the United States experienced mental illness in 2019 (1 in 5 adults), yet only 44.8% of those individuals received treatment. While it is certainly true that many of these did not receive help because they lacked the desire to do so, many others struggled in silence, desperately wanting and needing personal and/or financial support. Join TXMHR in bridging that gap!

Three Specific Ways TXMHR is Addressing Mental Health Needs

1. Support Groups - An important part of improving mental health is connecting regularly with others who face similar challenges. Texas Mental Health Resources is making connections across the state and creating a web of MindCare support groups that are making these important regular interfaces available and accessible. We would be grateful for an opportunity to start a new group in your city.

2. Health Care Assistance - Access to affordable health care and medications is critical to sustained mental health, yet so many across our state are struggling with managing these costs. Texas Mental Health Resources provides financial assistance for those needing help with navigating the expense of medications and mental health care.

3. Advocacy Training - Texas is in a mental health crisis situation, with depression reaching from our children to seniors. TXMHR is creating partnerships with organizations across the state to face this crisis head-on by providing understanding and training to their church or civic organizations.

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT IN TEXAS

Mental Health America has released its 2023 report, The State of Mental Health in America, and the statistics are devastating.

The numbers for all 50 states are terrible, but our situation in the state of TEXAS is most disturbing.

Overall Access to Mental Health Care – Texas ranks 50 out of 50
Adults with Mental Illness Who Have no Insurance – Texas ranks 49 out of 50 (21.4% of adults)
Adults with Mental Illness Who Did Not Receive Treatment – Texas ranks 46 out of 50 (62.3% of adults)
Adults with Cognitive Disability Unable to See a Doctor Due to Cost – Texas ranks 48 out of 50 (31.5% of adults – 893,651)
Youth with Major Depressive Episodes Who Did Not Receive Mental Health Services – Texas ranks 49 out 50 (74.9% of youth - 306,000)
Prevalance of Mental Illness among adults AND youth - Texas is 3rd highest among the 50 states

VETERAN/MILITARY EMPHASIS

According to a recent study conducted by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Psychiatry, both active duty and veteran military personnel encounter mental health issues at an alarming rate.

The study identifies three primary mental health concerns:

Depression - Beyond feeling simply "down" or "sad," depression interferes with daily functioning, and military/veterans encounter it at five times the rate of civilians.
Traumatic Brain Injury - A TBI is typically the result of a severe blow to the head, causing memory loss, mood changes, and headaches.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - Military combat can have devastating effects on sleeping, anger and nightmares, and it frequently leads to substance abuse. Veterans/military experience this at 15 times the rate of civilians.
Texas Mental Health Resources earmarks a percentage of our resources to helping United States veterans and active military who need financial assistance in order to seek mental wellness.

SENIOR SUPPORT

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), around 20% of people age 55 years or older experience some type of mental health concern. The most common conditions include anxiety, severe cognitive impairment, and mood disorders (such as depression or bipolar disorder). Mental health issues are often implicated as a factor in cases of suicide, with older men (85 and above) having the highest suicide rate of any age group.

An important part of improving mental health among older adults is helping them avoid isolation, instead connecting them regularly with others their same age who face similar challenges. Texas Mental Health Resources is going into senior adult communities and creating MindCare support groups that make these regular interfaces available and accessible.

Access to affordable health care and medications is also critical to sustained mental health among older adults, yet many on small fixed incomes find themselves struggling to manage these costs. TXMHR provides financial help to seniors needing assistance.