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Mental Health

You may have mental health treatment services  as a condition in order to assist you in resolving mental health conditions that limit your life functioning, compliance with supervision, or stability in the community. Treatment may include services like psychological/psychiatric evaluations; individual, family, or group counseling; and medication designed to treat conditions that may range from anxiety and depression to more chronic disorders such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or pedophilia.  The treatment requirement allows officers to identify, assess, monitor, and provide care in order to assist you in coping with any mental disease or defect .  Below you will find generalnational, state/local, and advocacy and support group resource information that will help to that end.

GENERAL MENTAL HEALTH INFORMATION

suicide prevention information from the Center for Disease Control.

Psychiatric Medication Guide from the Natinoal Institute of Mental Health provides an exhaustive source of information on the types of medications used to treat mental disorders, side effects of medications, directions for taking medications, and includes any FDA warnings.

Mental Health Topics (NIMH) offers information on signs, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment

Substance Abuse-Mental Health Services Administration 9SAMHSA) link that includes a clearinghouse of consumer-survivor information, links , and resources.

SAMHSA's Resources for Coping with Traumatic Events

SAMHSA's Store offers publications and materials on prevention and treatment of substance abuse and mental illness

SAMHSA's Consumer/Survivor Mental Health Information Program supports the meaningful participation of mental health Consumers/Survivors in all aspects of the mental health system, including the planning, design, implementation, policy formulation and evaluation of mental health services

Medline Plus (NIH) offers a library of information on Mental Health

Great fact sheet  about successful recovery from mental illness (Boston University).

NATIONAL RESOURCES AND LINKS

Here is the National Locator of Mental Health Facilities (U.S. Department of HHS) and their search engine by zipcode, radius  and facility or program type

Additionally, the U.S. Dept. of HHS has a primary link to exhaustive information on mental health issues, access to treatment and services, programs and orgranization that provide assistance, and advocacy resources.

Here is a great webportal from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for information and resources to help those battling co-occuring disorders (mental health or substance abuse together, or with other discorders), and for co-occuring treatment of those within the criminal justice system.

 The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has an comprehensive web-based clearinghouse and portal on mental health issues and topics.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are disability income benefit programs administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) that also provide Medicaid and/or Medicare health insurance to individuals who are eligible.

The SSI/SSDI application process is complicated and difficult to navigate, particularly for people who are homeless or who are returning to the community from institutions (jails, prisons or hospitals).  For those who have a mental illness, substance use issues, or co-occurring disorders that impair cognition, the application process poses an even greater challenge.  

SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) is a national project funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration that is designed to increase access to SSI/SSDI for eligible adults who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and have a mental illness and/or a co-occurring substance use disorder. Using a 3-pronged approach of Strategic Planning, Training, and Technical Assistance (TA), the SOAR TA Center coordinates this effort at the state and community level.

VETERANS:

U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs:  PTSD facility locator, mental services and information portal, a mental health treatment services locator and a detailed document explaining mental health services within the VA.

CRISIS HOTLINE:   The Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) also runs a National Call Center for Homeless Veterans hotline to ensure that homeless Veterans or Veterans at-risk for homelessness have free, 24/7 access to trained counselors. The hotline is intended to assist homeless Veterans and their families, VA Medical Centers, federal, state and local partners, community agencies, service providers  and others in the community.  To be connected with a trained VA staff member call 1-877-4AID VET (877-424-3838).

STATE/LOCAL RESOURCE INFORMATION

To learn more about community mental health services that are available in your area of Texas, please review the Texas Department of State Health Service is their "How to Get Help" page or contact your local mental health authority (LMHA) directly. By contacting your local mental health authority, you will also be able to access their local information and referral line, which is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week. (These are also referred to as Crisis Hotlines.)  You can also access a list of local mental health authorities and their crisis hotlines

You may also chooseto search by county, city, or ZIP code to locate the Local MH Authority (LMHA) closest to your area. If you need additional assistance please contact the Texas Dept. of State Health Services at contact.mh@dshs.state.tx.us.

Para informarse sobre los servicios de salud mental comunitarios del DSHS disponibles en su localidad para los adultos y los niños, puede contactar a la entidad de salud mental local. También podrá acceder a la línea de información local y derivaciones, que es contestada las 24 horas al día, siete días a la semana. A estas líneas telefónicas a menudo se les conoce como "líneas directas de crisis". Para encontrar la entidad de salud mental apropiada y su número de teléfono, elija uno de los siguientes métodos de búsqueda: $ektron('table.zebra tr:nth-child(even)') .add('table.zebraBorder tr:nth-child(even)') .addClass('zebraEven');

Here's the 211Texas.org services search engine for a wide variety of services in Texas, which includes mental health.  You simply select your area/zipcode, and enter "mental health".  It can also be accessed by telephone by dialing 211.

Mental Health Services Consumer Rights in Texas (Texas DSHS)

Patient and Family Education and Resources (DSHS).  Includes many local and national resource links/websites.

Domestic Violence - Batterer Treatment Information

Batterer information and resources are found through the Texas Council on Family Violence.

ADVOCACY, SUPPORT GROUPS AND RELATED INFORMATION

What a Difference a Friend Makes from SAMHSA (brochure with details of how to understand, help, and support someone struggling with mental illness.

SAMHSA's Resource Center to Address Discrimination & Stigma Associated with Mental Illness (ADS Center) provides information and advice on countering discrimination and stigma associated with mental illness

Persons suffering from mental illness and their family members will find the following advocacy groups, organizations and associations very helpful:

Advocacy Inc.
The mission of Advocacy, Inc. is to advocate for, protect, and advance the legal, human, and service rights of people with disabilities.

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry’s Facts for Families
The AACAP developed Facts for Families to provide concise and up-to-date information on issues that affect children, teenagers, and their families. The AACAP has produced the Facts for Families in English and Spanish.

National Alliance on Mental Illnes-Texas (for advocacy, support, links to services, and resources)

MHAT - Mental Health America of Texas
The Mental Health America of Texas (MHAT) is a statewide organization that works to promote mental health, prevent mental illnesses through research and education, improve care and treatment for people with mental illnesses, and to advocate for the rights of persons with mental illnesses through public policy.

Center for Mental Health Services' Knowledge Exchange Network
The National Mental Health Information Center was developed for users of mental health services and their families, the general public, policy makers, providers, and the media.

National Institute of Mental Health
The mission of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is to diminish the burden of mental illness through research.

NAMI - National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) is a nonprofit, grassroots, self-help, support and advocacy organization of consumers, families, and friends of people with severe mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxiety disorders.

NAMI - National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Texas - www.namitexas.org
The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Texas (NAMI Texas) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded by volunteers in 1984. NAMI Texas is affiliated with the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) and has 45 local affiliates throughout Texas. NAMI Texas has nearly 10,000 members made up of mental health consumers, family members, friends, and professionals. Its purpose is to help improve the lives of people affected by mental illness through education, support, and advocacy.

TMHC - Texas Mental Health Consumers
The mission of Texas Mental Health Consumers is to encourage, educate, train, and organize people who have received services, voluntarily or involuntarily, from the mental health system to advocate for themselves and to support each other.

TXFFCMH - Texas Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health
The purpose of the Texas Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health is to address the unique needs of children and youth with emotional, behavioral or mental disorders and their families.

Parent Connection Listing - Texas Chapters of Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health
The purpose of Parent Connection is to address the unique needs of children and youth with emotional, behavioral, or mental disorders from birth through transition to adulthood.

ADHD: A Place to Start
In particular, the information contained herein pertains to children that have a medical problem, emotional problem, developmental delays, ADHD and/or other neurological disorder.