Mental Health Guide
A Guide to Understanding Mental Health Systems and Services in Texas
Navigating mental health systems and services in Texas can be daunting, even for advocates and policymakers. The maze of behavioral health services is complex, making it difficult to understand and difficult to improve. The Hogg Foundation prepares a new edition of the Mental Health Guide to coincide with each Texas legislative session to help inform mental health and substance use policy analysis, development and decision-making.
A Tool for Everyone
We aim to support advocates, policymakers, consumers and their families as they navigate mental health systems and services in Texas. The intended audience for this guide includes legislators, legislative staff, state agency staff, advocates with lived experience, family advocates, mental health providers and other stakeholders interested in mental health and substance use policy.
Download the complete Mental Health Guide, or check out the other tabs to download single sections.
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This section focuses on select agencies, bills and issues at the national level that have a direct impact on systems and services in Texas. Download this section
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The past legislative session yielded both successes and lost opportunities for individuals with mental health and substance use conditions. In this section, important areas of Texas behavioral health systems are covered. Download this section
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This section includes the Texas Health and Human Services organizational structure. It also includes an overview of other state agencies and programs that provide behavioral health services. Download this section
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This section includes a list of figures, acronyms, additional resources, advisory committees and a glossary of commonly used behavioral health terms. Download this section
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The Important Role of Communities
While this guide focuses primarily on state policies and programs, the foundation recognizes the important role of communities. Many communities and local providers throughout the state are engaged in the development, implementation and oversight of locally funded and operated programs and services that are specifically designed to meet the needs of those communities. We encourage communities to engage in local collaborative efforts aimed at addressing the mental health needs of Texans from a population health perspective, and to place particular emphasis on identifying and supporting individuals who have been historically underrepresented in mental health policy discussions, as well as those who experience significant health disparities.
2020-2021 Hogg Foundation Policy Priorities
Context for policymakers, advocates and consumers.
85th Legislative Session Summary
Bills passed addressed a wide range of behavioral health needs for Texans.
Mental Health Parity Fact Sheet
Learn how parity works and how to get help if treatment has been denied.