Authors
Researched and written under the faculty supervision of
- Octavio N. Martinez, Jr., M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., D.F.A.P.A., Senior Associate Vice President and Executive Director, Hogg Foundation for Mental Health; Professor of Psychiatry, Dell Medical School; Clinical Professor, Steve Hicks School of Social Work
Primary authors and researchers
- Alison Mohr Boleware, LMSW, Director of Policy, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Steve Hicks School of Social Work
- Maddie Garza, LMSW, Policy Fellow, Social Science/Humanities Research III
- Shannon Hoffman, MSW, MPAff, Former Policy Program Officer
- Angela Ott, LMSW, Former Policy Fellow, Social Science/Humanities Research III
- Sandra Banda, Former Graduate Research Assistant
Editing
- Mary Capps, MSIS, Cross Unit Liaison
- Ike Evans, Communications Manager
Background
The first Guide was printed in 2012 and updated every other year for six versions, including a supplemental version. The 2024 Guide, 6th edition, is our first entirely online version. Published in December 2024, last updated on December 1, 2024.
Suggested citation: Hogg Foundation for Mental Health (n.d.). A guide to understanding mental health systems and services in Texas, 6th Edition. Retrieved from https://mhguide.hogg.utexas.edu/.
Comments and Corrections
The Hogg Foundation for Mental Health has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information and citations in this publication. The foundation encourages and appreciates comments and corrections, as well as ideas for improving the guide. Specific comments should reference the applicable section and page number(s). Please include citations for all factual corrections or additional information. All comments and recommendations should be submitted through this form.
Language Usage
Behavioral health is the term typically used when referring to mental health and substance use. The foundation acknowledges the ongoing discussion and differing perspectives about utilizing the terms “behavioral health” and “mental health.” In this Guide, the term “behavioral health” is sometimes used when referring to both mental health and substance use. Our belief is that whether referring to mental health, substance use, or behavioral health, the goal is recovery for the individual and wellness for the community.
References
The References sections that appear on most pages of this website are styled according to current American Psychological Association (APA) standards. Here is an example. Two important facts that readers should know:
Accessibility. Although current accessibility standards generally require that URLs in online works have descriptive text, the APA Style references used throughout this website do not follow that practice. For a full explanation of accessibility standards for APA Style references, go to this web page.
Broken links. There are literally hundreds of reference URLs cited throughout this website. It is inevitable that readers will encounter broken links. Reference URLs reflect the online sources used at the time of writing the guide, with no guarantees of permanence. Efforts to update broken links will be made during periodic site updates.
Dedication
We the authors acknowledge that non-medical structural drivers of health and mental health, including legislation, current events, and identity-based discrimination, have an impact on the well-being of the people of Texas.
The 2024 edition of this guide is dedicated to the community of Allen, Texas, the eight lives lost, and their families who will never see their loved ones again after the shooting at Allen Premium Outlets on May 6th, 2023. We should ensure that these lives are never forgotten:
- Aishwarya Thatikonda, 26
- Daniela Mendoza, 11
- Sofia Mendoza, 8
- Kyu Cho, 37
- Cindy Cho, 35
- James Cho, 3
- Christian LaCour, 23
- Elio Cumana-Rivas, 32
We would be remiss if the victims of the previous recent Texas mass shootings were not honored and also kept at the forefront of our memories. The impact on the communities of Uvalde, Fort Hood, Dallas, Sutherland Springs, Santa Fe, El Paso, and Midland-Odessa must not be assumed to be resolved. We recognize that each of these communities have endured unimaginable trauma, grief, and pain, and continue to feel the absence of their loved ones.
While their resilience and strength are undeniable, the onus placed on these communities to proceed with normalcy in the face of these tragedies is unfair. The ongoing impact of community violence and trauma cannot go unanswered. We should look to the remarkable resilience of these communities to inspire our efforts. Texas must work to better support mental health and wellness throughout communities prior to, and in the wake of, unthinkable tragedies.
Hogg Foundation for Mental Health
Established in 1940, the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health envisions a future in which the people of Texas thrive in communities that support mental health and well-being. Using a variety of approaches, including grantmaking, convening, research, and public policy, the foundation works collaboratively to transform how communities promote mental health in everyday life. We believe that mental health is not solely an individual responsibility, but is also a product of community conditions. The places where people live, learn, work, play, and pray can have a significant impact on improving mental health.
Over the years, the foundation has awarded millions of dollars in grants to continue the Hogg family’s legacy of public service and dedication to improving mental health and wellness in Texas. Other donors to the foundation have allowed us to establish smaller endowments in support of our mission. To learn more, visit hogg.utexas.edu.
Updated on January 14th, 2025
