No matter the situation, there is always hope, and there is always help.

Members of the Hill Country Mental Health and Developmental Disability Centers’ Mobile Crisis Outreach Team, also known as MCOT, are trained professionals ready to respond to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis and needing immediate support.

MCOT is available 24 hours per day, seven days per week, to provide on-site services within the community to individuals or families. MCOT provides crisis services for children and adults, including assessment, case management, crisis follow-up and support necessary for the individual to remain in the community.

Jennifer Nieto, Hill Country MHDD Center’s mental health clinic director in New Braunfels, said the program is designed to reduce mental healthcare access barriers, decrease suicide completion and increase safety.

“Through the resources available to the MCOT, we are now able to expedite the mental health treatment needed to de-escalate the current crisis while providing the tools needed to prevent these situations in the future,” Nieto said. “Working in this field for the last 16 years, I’ve seen treatment options expand and improve, and it feels good to finally be able to provide these services to our community in a timely, trauma-informed and person-centered manner.”

Trauma-informed staff members are dedicated to assisting individuals experiencing behavioral health crises. The crisis hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by calling 1-877-466-0660.

The nationally proven, evidence-based program is designed to assist neighbors in crisis while saving community resources by reducing the burden on law enforcement, hospitals, school districts and other agencies.

But Nieto emphasized that individuals don’t need to wait or shouldn’t wait until a situation reaches an emergency or immediate danger level to seek help. Prevention is a critical part of the MCOT equation.

“What we are seeing now (since the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic) are fewer calls but more lethality and risk in the call,” she said. “I’m afraid people are waiting longer to get the help they need. Instead of reaching out, they are struggling, self-medicating or otherwise hurting while thinking their symptoms are not ‘bad enough’ to ask for help. As people wait, their situation often gets worse and more intense.”

In the last 12 months, MCOT members have screened 970 individuals in crisis, resulting in 548 safety plans and 422 hospitalizations. Individuals were also referred to community partners for services that helped them avoid hospitalization.

A safety plan is a preventative tool designed to help support those who struggle with mental well-being. This ‘mental health first-aid kit’ includes strategies to keep an individual safe.

“While psychiatric hospitalization has its place in the mental health treatment model, we hope to provide lesser restrictive options so a person’s first experience with mental health care is not waking up in a hospital,” she said. “We hope people will reach out sooner, and feel welcome, cared for, and heard in an outpatient setting before their situation becomes a crisis.”

Nieto added that since the apex of the pandemic, family dynamics have become a primary stressor in patients seeking mental health services.

“Multiple families are living together,” she said, “multiple generations living in one home, probably because of financial concerns – and that is creating stressors for individuals and contributing to the mental health crisis.”

Other primary stressors include depression, work or school stress and finances.

From 2017-2022, MCOT provided lifesaving services to about 7,225 Comal County residents, with most calls resulting in safety plans instead of in-patient hospitalizations. About 5,135 people were referred to community partners.

The McKenna Foundation has supported MCOT since its creation, granting more than $1 million to assist this critical mental health program.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available 24/7. Call or text the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. For local help, call the Mobile Crisis Outreach Team of Comal County at 1-877-466-0660 or text 741741.

Confidential crisis support is available for veterans and their loved ones by dialing 988, then pressing 1. Veterans can also text 838255. If someone is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1. For more information, visit MAPComal.org.

With representatives from local mental health care providers and other agencies such as Hill Country Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Centers, River City Advocacy and Counseling Center, First Footing and CASA of Central Texas looking on, Comal County commissioners on May 4 issued a proclamation recognizing May as Mental Health Awareness Month in Comal County to promote awareness of resources available in the community.

The proclamation stated, “the importance of overcoming mental health challenges are significant and valuable to individuals, families and our community at large.”

“With early and effective interventions,” the proclamation stated, “those individuals with mental health conditions can recover and lead full, productive lives.”

Proclamations and other events are taking place this month as part of National Mental Health Awareness Month, observed in the U.S. since 1949 to raise awareness about mental health and fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for policies that support the millions of people affected by mental illness.

“I’m thankful with what we have in our community,” Jaime Brogan with Hill Country MHDD said. “Although there are service gaps, I know for certain that members of our community are working hard to close them, and it’s up to us to support them in this mission.”

It’s more important, Brogan continued, “for each of us to develop our own awareness of our own mental health and that of those closest to us because before someone calls the crisis line or calls 9-1-1 or verbalizes a need for help, there are often signs that those of us that are closest to them that they may need support.”

After the presentation, group members journeyed across the street to the Main Plaza to place a green ribbon, the symbol of mental health awareness, on the Freundschaftsbaum Friendship Tree.

Awareness of mental health issues and supporting those affected is essential. According to a survey conducted last year by the Kaiser Family Foundation and CNN, 51% of U.S. adults reported that they or a family member had experienced a severe mental health crisis. The survey also found that half of all adults have experienced anxiety or depression during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many warning signs indicate a person may be at risk of suicide. Take it seriously if someone you know is talking about or making plans to hurt themselves. Let them know there is hope and encourage them to call or text 988 for help.

For local help, call the Mobile Crisis Outreach Team of Comal County at 1-877-466-0660 or text 741741.

Confidential crisis support is available for veterans and their loved ones by dialing 988, then pressing 1. Veterans can also text 838255. If someone is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1. For more information, visit MAPComal.org.

New Braunfels will host the Texas Suicide Prevention Symposium 2023 this summer.

The Symposium, slated for June 13-15 at the New Braunfels Civic and Convention Center, is one of the largest gatherings of mental health community partners, providers and stakeholders nationally and regularly attracts a variety of subject matter experts.

In 2022, the virtual Symposium attracted about 1,900 registrants and over 7.5 million social media impressions. This year’s event will serve as the first in-person Symposium since 2016.

This event provides vital technical assistance to Texas communities on suicide prevention. We encourage all stakeholders invested in mental health, suicide prevention, and those serving youth, military, veterans and underserved Texans to attend. There will be a Zoom option for those who cannot attend in person and most sessions will be recorded.

“We really work hard to make this widely available,” said Lisa Sullivan, executive director of the Texas Suicide Prevention Collaborative. “There is great work happening across our state – this is an opportunity to bring everyone together, hear from over 40 national state and local experts and showcase over 40 exhibitors. We know the hard work of suicide prevention happens in our communities and this event is designed to bring the resources to them. We are really excited to have the opportunity to work with New Braunfels on this important event. I think this location is fantastic. The New Braunfels community has been so supportive, and we’re grateful for the support we are receiving.”

The statewide organization supports and administers the Symposium as well as the Texas Suicide Prevention Council — a network of more than 140 statewide partners, local coalitions, military and veteran organizations and institutions of higher education who work together to improve suicide prevention outcomes for Texas.

Sessions on the first day of the Symposium will focus on schools, youth and higher education, presented by South Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center.

Day two will feature sessions on general infrastructure issues that have statewide and local implications, presented by Texas Health and Human Services.

The event’s final day will include sessions focused on service members, veterans and families, presented by Endeavors.

At the Civic Center, one classroom will serve as a wellness room for those who need a break and even partake in art if they wish.

The McKenna Foundation, Mental Advocacy Partners Comal and the Suicide Prevention Council of Comal County are among the local organizations sponsoring the Symposium.

“The Texas Suicide Prevention Symposium is an important event that brings experts to the community to share nationally recognized prevention efforts,” said Kristen Fain, the McKenna Foundation’s program officer. “By supporting this Symposium in New Braunfels, we are taking a crucial step towards creating a safer and more compassionate community for all.”

For more information or to register for the event, visit texassuicideprevention.org/texas-suicide-prevention-symposium-2023.

Follow the hashtag #TxSP23 on Twitter for live updates during the Symposium.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available 24/7. Call or text the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. For local help, call the Mobile Crisis Outreach Team of Comal County at 1-877-466-0660 or text 741741.

Confidential crisis support is available for veterans and their loved ones by dialing 988, then pressing 1. Veterans can also text 838255. If someone is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1. For more information, visit MAPComal.org.