In addition to being domestic violence awareness month, October is also mental health awareness month — October 5-11, to be specific. Some interesting resources pertaining to Texas mental health issues can be found at The Mental Health Association in Texas. Here is some information from a link on their website:

Untreated mental health problems put young people on a trajectory toward jail rather than college. Approximately HALF of youth in the Juvenile Justice System have at least one mental disorder.

–(Juvenile Probation Commission, 2003; and Criminal Justice Policy Council, 2003)

Access to Mental Health Care is already extremely limited. While 9 counties on Texas served more than 90 percent of children in the county who are ‘At Risk’ and eligible for MHMR services in 2002, 33 counties in Texas served fewer than 10 percent of children needing mental health services in the county.

Lack of access to services and proper medications can lead to tragic consequences including hospitalization, incarceration, and suicide.

• There are 1 ½ times more suicides than homicides with an average of 6 deaths each day by suicide in Texas.
• Of the suicides carried out, 90% are related to untreated or under-treated mental illness with the most common factor associated with suicide being depression.
• Nearly 20% of the people diagnosed with bipolar disorder and 15% diagnosed with schizophrenia die by suicide.
• 121 more people committed suicide in 2001 than in 2000 — a 6% increase in just one year.
• 33 children below the age of 14 committed suicide in Texas in 2000. Suicide is increasing among children 10-14 yrs.
• 167 people over age 75 in Texas committed suicide in 2000.
• 2,093 people committed suicide in Texas in 2000.
• The highest rates for suicide in Texas are among the 45-54 age group (15.2 per 100,000) and the 75 and over age group (18 per 100,000 people).

How ironic and disturbing that in times of economic stress, money for mental health is slashed from budgets when, in fact, more people need services. The CDC maintains a list of mental health agencies in the U.S. Contact your local agencies to learn about services in your area.