Advocates push to bring Texas mental health crisis care on par with 911 services
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Thousands of calls to Texas suicide hotlines are going unanswered as funding for call centers is millions of dollars short of what advocates said they need to keep up with demand.
The suicide rate in Texas has grown significantly in the past 20 years and a federal mandate to run the 988 crisis hotline is putting pressure on the system. Mental health advocates said changes to the state and federal system of funding crisis services are urgently needed.
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Lyssette Galvan, public policy director for the National Alliance on Mental Illness-Texas, said crisis care needs more respect from the system.
"It's following the successful model of 911 funding," Galvan pointed out. "We're aiming to set up a precedent that 988 should be in parity with 911 and that all emergency services should be treated the same."
A bill filed by state Senator Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio, would create a state trust fund for 988 services similar to how 911 emergency services are handled. Galvan noted the fund, paid by cell phone fees, would expand capacity, increase counselor pay and make the latest technologies available.
Between January and August, 18,500 calls to Texas' 988 system were abandoned. Senate Bill 188, prefiled for the upcoming 89th Texas Legislature, would close the gap for Texans who call a hotline but are put on hold or transferred and cannot talk with a counselor.
"We do have a lot of stakeholder support," Galvan emphasized. "Almost every day I have somebody emailing me and asking me about the bill or if I know about the bill. Even within the local mental health authorities, there's a lot of buy-in."
Galvan added a significant part of the American Rescue Plan Act's funding for the 988 system has expired, and states will need to create permanent financing by the end of 2026.
"As the federal support decreases, it's time for Texans to really step up and ensure that we're helping our fellow neighbor in crisis," Galvan urged. "Our communities deserve nothing less than a complete, accessible, and reliable crisis response system."
