Support Mental Health Initiatives

Texas Health Resources Foundation has joined forces with the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute (the Meadows Institute), to help North Texas schools build the tools and resources they need to help our youngest neighbors. Training will be provided through Executive Learning Communities (ELCs). Topics include recognizing signs and symptoms of depression, screening tools and school interventions, multi-tiered systems of support, addressing trauma and grief, and staff well-being and support. The program prioritizes districts located in high-needs, under-resourced ZIP codes. Donations to this program will help ensure that district leaders have access to a unique and holistic professional development experiences that will provide essential training and learning, plus space for collaboration, brainstorming, and innovation.

Mental health is a primary health concern for children and teenagers. 

• 1 in 5 U.S. children ages 3–17 has a mental, emotional, behavioral, or developmental disorder. (U.S. Surgeon General Issues Advisory on Youth Mental Health Crisis Further Exposed by COVID-19 Pandemic, 2019).
• Suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth ages 10 -14 and the third leading cause of death among youth ages 15 -24.
• On average, children wait 8-10 years post-symptoms for care.

In addition, Texas Health recently launched virtual services for Behavioral Health patients. 

"These services create a new access point for patients experiencing mental health challenges,” said Shawn Parsley, D.O., president and chief operations officer, THPG. “Primary care physicians have long experienced challenges getting patients seen by Behavioral Health, in part due to long wait times and difficulty getting coverage. These virtual services are a major solution for those obstacles.” Common conditions that will be treated include depression, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, trauma- and stress-related disorders, and bipolar disorder.

"Historically, Texas Health has had a robust behavioral health service line that included inpatient and some acute outpatient services, but traditional outpatient psychiatry and counseling have been gaps,” said Scott Domingue, chief operating and nursing officer, Behavioral Health. Virtual individual therapy and psychiatric medication management are helping Texas Health continue putting the consumer at the heart of everything. Investing in one or both of these programs supports a healthier future for North Texas.