FILTERS

Texas, like many other states, is currently facing a mental health crisis. Twenty-eight percent of all adults—and a stunning 35% of African-Americans—reported having poor mental health in a 2013 Kaiser Family Foundation survey. The Lone Star State is only able to offer mental health services to 21% of people who need those services as Texas spends just $35 per capita on mental health services—a rate significantly lower than most other states. Proper mental health treatment can prevent a mental health challenge from becoming a catastrophe and early interventions almost inevitably leads to better outcomes.

What Do Residential Treatment Centers in Texas Offer?

Residential rehab facilities feature 24/7 care, which means you will not have to leave the facility or worry about the pressures and stresses of everyday life. For people facing mental health crises, chronic substance abuse, and overwhelming stress, the reduced pressures of life in rehab can make recovery possible. Although funding for mental health care is limited in Texas, the Affordable Care Act mandates that insurers cover mental health care. This means that, if your condition meets the requirements outlined by your insurer, all or a portion of your stay may be covered.

Each facility offers its own set of services, so ask plenty of questions before you admit yourself. Some facilities, for example, adopt a specific religious philosophy, while others endorse holistic wellness practices such as yoga and meditation. At most rehab centers, you'll have access to at least the following services:

• Support from your peers in the form of informal support networks, as well as group therapy and, if you have an addiction, 12-step meetings.
• Weekly therapy sessions designed to help you understand your condition and establish strong coping skills.
• A safe and drug-free environment where you can focus on your recovery.
• A doctor's assistance to manage any physical or mental health conditions you have. You'll also get assistance choosing and managing medication, as well as help through the detox process if you have an addiction.
• Activities designed to keep your mind off of stress and help you master new skills. Some rehab facilities even allow you to attend school on-site.

Some rehab facilities offer outpatient care to former residents who need assistance transitioning to independent living. A few also offer services to nonresidents in the form of therapy, support groups, and similar services.

Mental Health Care in Texas

According to Mental Health America's survey Parity or Disparity: The State of Mental Health in America, the mental health care system in Texas ranks 36th nationwide. Accessing mental health services can be challenging, particularly for adolescents, with Texas's ranking for access to mental health care at 47th nationwide. Texas also has more adults with suicidal thoughts per capita than any other state, with 614,000 adults reporting suicidal thoughts each year.

Texas sends more people to prison than any other state, and the state's mental health system may explain this phenomenon, because prison systems will often end up with a high percentage of inmates who have mental health issues when their conditions are left unaddressed due to lack of access to quality care. Seventy percent of incarcerated children in Texas have a mental health problem. And among state prison inmates, 73% of women and 55% of men have at least one diagnosable mental health condition.

Texas Demographics

Texas is the second most populous state in the United States, boasting a population of more than 26.4 million people. Whites constitute the majority, making up 80.3% of the population. Blacks make up 12.4% of the population, and American Indian and Alaska Natives making up 1% of the population. Latinos—who may identify as both white and Latino—make up 38.4% of the population. Slightly more than 81% of residents graduated from high school, and 26.7% of the population graduated from college with a bachelor's degree or higher. Almost 18% of Texans live below the poverty line.

References:

1. Balke, J. (2013, December 30). Updated: Texas becomes second most populous state, adds more than 387,000 residents. Retrieved from http://blogs.houstonpress.com/news/2013/12/texas_becomes_second_most_popu.php
2. By the numbers: Mental illness behind bars. (2014, May 15). Retrieved from http://kaiserhealthnews.org/news/by-the-numbers-mental-illness-jail/
3. Evans, T., & Tinsley, A. M. (2012, August 14). Texas has nation's largest prison population. Retrieved from http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/08/14/162208/texas-has-nations-largest-prison.html
4. Mental Health America. (2014). Parity or disparity: The state of mental health in America, 2015. Retrieved from http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/sites/default/files/Parity%20or%20Disparity%202015%20Report.pdf
5. Percent of adults reporting poor mental health by race/ethnicity. (2013). Retrieved from http://kff.org/other/state-indicator/poor-mental-health-by-re/
6. State Statistics: Texas. Arlington, VA: National Alliance on Mental Illness, n.d. PDF.
7. Texas. (2014, December 4). Retrieved from http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/48000.html