The construction begins after lawmakers have allocated $2.5 billion to modernize and increase access to inpatient psychiatric care in Texas.
mental health
Posted in
Health care
With too few mental health providers, more patients turn to primary care
While primary care is experiencing its own workforce shortage, the profession is shouldering more mental health screenings to help bridge the behavioral health provider gap.
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Health care
“Grateful to be alive”: Clubhouse programs take pressure off overwhelmed Texas mental health hospitals
Thousands of people are discharged from Texas mental health hospitals yearly, and so-called step-down programs like clubhouses can help them integrate back into the community.
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Environment
Texas’ first-ever statewide flood plan estimates 5 million live in flood-prone areas
The state’s flood plan shows which Texans are most at risk of flooding and suggests billions of dollars more are needed for flood mitigation projects.
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Graphics and data reporting
Travis County is shifting focus to prevent overdose deaths as fentanyl ravages the area
Since 2019, accidental drug deaths have been rising in Texas, with the number tripling in Travis County.
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Criminal Justice
New $305 million Austin State Hospital unveiled as Texas revamps psychiatric system
The facility has 240 single-person rooms, a basketball gym and outdoor courtyards. It’s part of a $2.5 billion overhaul of the state’s mental health hospital system.
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Health care
In rural Texas, ERs are facing a growing mental health crisis
The mental health workforce shortage is more acute in rural areas, adding to rising patient loads in hospital ERs.
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Health care
Texas is struggling to diversify its mental health workforce as the state becomes less white
More than 40% of the state’s population is Hispanic, but its mental health provider population is more than 80% white.
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Criminal Justice
Texas criminal appeals court removes Tomas Gallo from death row because of his intellectual disability
The court re-sentenced Gallo to life in prison for the murder of his girlfriend’s 3-year-old daughter.
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Health care
Texas psychologists’ board pushes back on costly new national licensing exam, considers crafting a cheaper state test
Faced with a nagging mental health provider shortage, the state psychologists’ licensing board is looking into whether the state should devise its own exam to get professionals licensed more quickly.
