BY JARRETT WHITENER
Zooming out
Looking ahead
Todd Smith, Fair Oaks Ranch police chief, said there are plans to start a wellness check program for residents age 60 and above, allowing volunteers to help older adults with everyday needs. Smith said one of his goals as police chief has been connecting law enforcement with the community and ensuring residents know police are available for mental health and wellness checks.
According to data from Texas Health and Human Services, adults age 75 and over have the highest risk of suicide compared to other adult age groups, at a rate of 19.5 per 100,000 population in the state. Between 2012 and 2022, adults ages 18-44 have gone from the lowest suicide rates to the sec- ond-highest rate. Data from Texas HHS shows a need for mental health support across all age groups.
While children are not listed in the data set, they are susceptible to mental health challenges, leading school districts like Boerne ISD to offer support, especially post COVID-19 pandemic. “We noticed, especially coming out of the pandemic, that a lot of our kids were experiencing, for example, anxiety or depression, or not able to connect because their social awareness was off,” Pomeroy said.
Adult suicide death rates in Texas, 2017-2022 The adult suicide death rates in Texas per 100,000 population Ages:
20
“We’re hoping with a program like that we can really get under the hood a little bit more of our community to see what problems they’re facing and to see if we can help them.” TODD SMITH FAIR OAKS RANCH POLICE CHIEF
10
18-44 45-64
75+ 65-74
0
2017 2018 2019 2020
2021
2022
Year
SOURCE: TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Mental health resources in Kendall and Bexar counties In the U.S., the national suicide and crisis lifeline is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org.
Keep in mind
Regardless of mental health needs, county organizations are dedicated to getting residents available resources. “I think what we have been doing is trying to fill in the gap so that people have long- term counseling solutions, psychiatric access, psychiatric med access, and then overall on a kind of macro level, making sure the whole county understands what trauma is,” Boddie said.
Kendall County Mental Health Center* 221 Fawn Valley Dr., Ste. 500, Boerne 830-249-9328
Hill Country Family Services
Genesis Counseling Center
Clarity Child Guidance Center
Laurel Ridge Treatment Center
17720 Corporate Woods Dr., San Antonio
101 Woods of Boerne Blvd. #200, Boerne 830-967-7422
114 W. Advogt St., Boerne
535 Tom Slick Ave., San Antonio
210-491-9400
830-249-8643
210-616-0300
*THE KENDALL COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER IS BOERNE'S HILL COUNTRY MHDD LOCATION.
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BOERNE - FAIR OAKS RANCH EDITION
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