The Forum: Mental illness affects all of us, whether we want to admit it or not
Mental illness affects all of us, whether we want to admit it or not
By Lizzy de la Garza, Class of 2024
Conference information:
Reflections:
These essays are the views of the authors alone and do not represent the positions of the Texas Lyceum.
Mental illness affects all of us,
whether we want to admit it or not
By Lizzy de la Garza, Class of 2024
Eye-opening, alarming, compelling, cathartic, impactful, and unifying. That’s how I would describe “The State of Mental Health in Texas” conference.
This conference made me realize how crucial it is for all of us to become better informed about mental health and work together to remove the stigma, address the issues, overcome the challenges and find real solutions. Trauma looks different for everyone, and emotional pain is manifested in distinct ways. But the reality is, whether we want to admit it or not, mental illness affects all of us in one way or another. It affects families, schools, workplaces, healthcare systems, the economy and the social fabric of our communities.
It was eye-opening to learn that 1 in 5 adults in Texas will experience a mental health condition and that 1 in 3 Texas children will experience a mental health disorder. It was alarming to hear that mental illness is not, on average, detected and treated — to the extent it is detected and treated at all — until 8 to 10 years after symptoms first emerge. The sessions were very compelling thanks to the incredibly knowledgeable, passionate and impactful speakers.
I feel I have a better understanding of the key challenges and how access to mental health care encompasses not just funding but also a shortage of mental health providers and limited awareness of the options available. According to the most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey, nearly 4.9 million Texans, or 16.6 percent of the state's population, do not have health insurance. That’s more than double the national average of 8 percent, and it’s the highest amount of any state, both in total number of uninsured residents and percentage.
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, 246 of 254 Texas counties are designated mental health professional shortage areas (MHPSAs). I was shocked to hear that in Texas there is one mental health professional (which includes psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, counselors, marriage and family therapists, advance practice nurses, and physician assistants specializing in mental healthcare) for every 680 Texans, one licensed psychologist for every 6,067 Texans, and one psychiatrist for every 11,758 Texans. Texas leads the nation in so many ways, but this is an area we still need to work on.
Although we still have a ways to go, I was pleased to hear that leading up to the 88th Legislative Session, policymakers shared a strong resolve to do more for mental health in Texas, delivering a record $11.68 billion for behavioral health, an increase of more than 30 percent from the previous session. We must do a better job educating our communities on mental health, striving for prevention or at least early detection and intervention to yield better outcomes.
Over the years there has been a growing focus on being “healthy,” but being healthy goes beyond our physical health. Our mental health is just as important, if not more important, because that drives our beliefs, our choices, and our actions.
Lastly, the experiences and stories shared made for a very cathartic encounter that unified and fostered a deeper connection among directors. One thing we can all do, no matter where we are, is help reduce the stigma by normalizing mental health. Talk about it so people suffering from mental illness realize they are not alone in this battle; so they feel supported, encouraged and empowered to seek help. We can all work together toward being less judgmental, more empathetic, kinder and more supportive of each other, uniting as Lyceum directors, as a community, and as a state.
Huge kudos and thanks to the conference co-chairs for putting together an invaluable conference that has the power to make a transformative impact.