UNDERSTANDING THE CRISIS Half of the calls to Montgomery County’s mental health unit from January to June were routine checkups on residents, although more than a quarter of calls were regarding people in mental health crisis.
CASES RISING
TYPE OF CALLS TO MENTAL HEALTH UNIT:
CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM MISC. Calls consist of checkups, follow-up visits with residents who recently experienced a mental health issue or completed outpatient services from Tri-County Behavioral Healthcare, or public service calls regarding mental health concerns.
The demand for mental health crisis services among both adults and children has increased in Montgomery County over the last decade. Children Number of Tri-County Behavioral Healthcare Crisis Services cases: Adults
COURT ORDERED MENTAL HEALTH CHECK These calls include mental health warrants and welfare checks.
196 CALLS (4%)
2,395 CALLS (50%)
MENTAL HEALTH TRANSPORT These calls include court- ordered transports from hospitals to psychiatric facilities, to court or voluntary transport from individuals seeking help.
461
2,624
Crisis intervention calls involve citizens struggling with: severe depression, suicidal thoughts or actions;
2017
612
3,161
2018
3,645
suicide with a weapon;
714
916 CALLS (19%)
2019
violent tendencies toward family members or the general public; overdoses on medications or those o their psychiatric medications;
CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM These calls include those to 911 concerning persons in mental health crisis.
775
3,800
CONTINUED FROM 1
2020
American Rescue Plan Act funding. According to project and expendi- ture reports from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Montgomery County budgeted $8.16 million, or more than one-third of its allocated funds for ARPA projects as of March 31, for men- tal health. Statewide, a 2022 report by Mental Health America ranks Texas last out of 51 states and territories for access to mental health care. As such, local groups such as Montgomery Coun- ty’s volunteer-based Behavioral Health and Suicide Prevention Task Force said they are trying to improve access. The task force was created by Precinct 1 Judge Wayne Mack in 2020, according to previous reporting. The task force is beginning a gap analysis in September to determine what services are needed in the county, said Brenda LaVar, a member of the task force and president of the board
761
3,754
1,276 CALLS (27%)
2021
825
3,426
of directors for the National Alliance on Mental Illness Greater Houston. “When [families] can’t nd help, that’s a real problem,” she said. Uptick in mental health demand According to Cash’s report, calls for mental health services to the unit are projected to increase to 9,566 calls by the end of 2022, a 101% increase from 2021. He said the most common category of calls from January-June was mis- cellaneous crisis intervention team responses, which consist of check-ins with citizens who have recently expe- rienced mental health issues as well as those who recently completed outpa- tient visits with Tri-County Behavioral Healthcare, a federally quali ed health center. Cash noted the ARPA funds
illegal narcotic substance use causing psychosis; and
2022 (Jan.- June)
Tri-County recorded more child cases from January to June than any other full year.
a manic state of mind or decline in health and mental state and who are harmful to themselves or others
SOURCES: MONTGOMERY COUNTY PRECINCT 1 CONSTABLE, TRI COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
stabilization unit to close in November. He said people admitted to the 16-bed unit are generally uninsured and require hospitalization. Roberson told commissioners Aug. 3 it would require nearly $2 mil- lion per year to resta the program and pay competitive salaries, but he said he does not want to sta full- time positions using temporary ARPA funds.
have allowed o cers to increase their follow-up frequency. Meanwhile, Evan Roberson— executive director of Tri-County— said Tri-County statistics showed as of June, the center had served 4,251 people in crisis; the center saw more children in the rst six months of 2022 than in the four full years prior. However, Roberson said sta ng shortages caused the center’s crisis
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