HELPING STEPS FOR
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judicial training on juvenile mental health.” While SB 10 focuses on identifying and getting help for at-risk youths, it would also establish the Texas Child Access Through Tele- medicine program to con- nect at-risk students with behavioral health assess- ments and intervention programs. The press release states Texas Senate leadership has increased the budgeted state funding for mental health by
Facilitated by Jenny Lee in The Woodlands, the group encourages attendees to speak about their loss to help with the grieving process. “We talk about getting through the holidays ... family issues and how to handle guilt,” Lee said. The group has seen gatherings as small as two and as many as 15 attend to seek help with their grieving pro- cess, according to Lee. “Grief is a process you have to go through,” Lee said. “You have to let yourself go through it and feel all of the emotions. You don’t ever get over it, but it does get better. You have to work your way through the process.” She said she feels Montgomery County is taking the right steps in getting the word out about the indicators of suicide. “Hopefully, that is going to help the stigma go away so people won’t feel afraid to ask for help,” she said. “It’s a mental health issue. If you have a heart attack, you get help for your heart. This is like help for your brain.” Mack said he hopes the task force he is forming will add to the dialogue. “What we want to try and do is bring together everybody that wants to have a conversation about suicide prevention, awareness and mental health first aid,” he said.
1. Recognize warning signs
2. Contact friends, family members or mental health professionals
3. Ensure the person is in a safe environment
SOURCE:CENTERFORDISEASE CONTROLANDPREVENTION/ COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
$750 million to a total of $7.6 billion. Locally, members on The Woodlands Township board of directors expressed an interest in raising the awareness of suicide, which Mack said would inspire other communities to do the same. However, what Mack said he would like to see members of the community have the most is hope. “If we can give people hope that are in crisis, that’s the biggest part of the bat- tle,” Mack said. GRIEF AND RECOVERY While there are resources available around The Woodlands area for help- ing to cope with mental health issues, groups such as Survivors of Suicide pro- vide resources for family members and friends of suicide victims.
the solution had to come from the teens,” Hess said. “We were
able to start a student-led school club.” The first club was established at College Park High School, and it has expanded to schools including the Lone Star College-Montgomery campus. The organization brings in guest speakers, and members have monthly discussion topics. The goal of the group is to get stu- dents to look out and care for each other, Hess said. State legislators are also weighing in on the issue. State senators Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, and Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, announced their sup- port in a Feb. 13 press release of Senate Bill 10 in the legislative session, which will “establish a partnership among Texas health institutions on statewide mental health research and strengthen
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TREATMENT PLACES TO FIND TheWoodlands area is home tomany resources for individuals and their families seeking support services.
1 Tri-County Psychiatric Emergency Treatment Center 706 FM 2854, Conroe 2 The Woodlands Integrative Care Hospital 1006 Windsor Lakes Blvd., Ste. 200, Conroe Montgomery County Youth Services 8701 New Trails Drive, Ste. 118, The Woodlands 4 The Woodlands Behavioral Health and Wellness Center 2700 Research Forest Drive, Ste. 130, The Woodlands 3
Grace Point Counseling Center 9201 Grogans Mill Road, The Woodlands Interfaith Community Clinic 101 Pine Manor Drive, Oak Ridge North Family and Youth Institute 25511 Budde Road, The Woodlands Summit Counseling 295 Sawdust Road, The Woodlands
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