As mental health conversations evolve, the necessary pivot becomes how organizations across Texas navigate improved ways to help people access the care they need before their challenges become crises.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why Mental Health America of Greater Houston<\/a> recently announced that it is expanding its Care Connect<\/a> platform statewide.<\/p>\n The expansion will address perhaps the most persistent barrier to behavioral healthcare \u2014 helping people find and navigate services that already exist.<\/p>\n Care Connect\u2019s extended reach comes at a time when more than 3.5 million adults in the state live with some kind of mental health condition and scores of those in need continue to struggle with accessing care despite the growing awareness of mental health needs.<\/p>\n According to President and CEO Renae Vania Tomczak, Care Connect\u2019s main goal was to remove as many obstacles as possible that Texans face when seeking mental health support.<\/p>\n \u201cCare Connect was about a two-year planning process,\u201d Tomczak says. \u201cIt really began with asking what challenges people in the Greater Houston Area were facing regarding mental health. It\u2019s not just accessing care, but the difficulty in navigating the mental healthcare system.\u201d<\/p>\n While provider shortages remain a challenge in some communities, Mental Health America of Greater Houston found that many individuals and families struggle simply to determine where to turn, how to identify the right provider and whether services are affordable.<\/p>\n \u201cWe wanted to make it easier for people who have questions, who may never have had a mental health challenge before, or they\u2019re a caregiver for somebody who has a mental health issue,\u201d Tomczak says. \u201cWe wanted to be the place that people can come to get their questions answered and be connected to care.\u201d<\/p>\n Care Connect combines a vetted network of more than 1,000 providers and services across Texas with personalized navigation support.<\/p>\n Searches generate care results based on insurance coverage, language preferences, ZIP code and clinical specialties.<\/p>\n Additionally, one-on-one guidance and follow-up support are provided by bilingual resource specialists.<\/p>\n The platform also seeks to address affordability, one of the most significant barriers to mental healthcare access. Through participating providers, eligible individuals can receive six to eight counseling sessions at no cost.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have several providers who are willing to provide six to eight counseling sessions at no cost for people who do not have the means to pay for services themselves,\u201d Tomczak says.<\/p>\n When provider matches are unavailable, the organization can connect individuals with master\u2019s-level mental health professionals working under the supervision of licensed clinicians.<\/p>\n The statewide rollout builds on the platform\u2019s early success in the Houston region, where it has helped thousands of individuals connect with mental health resources since launching last fall.<\/p>\n According to Tomczak, the decision to expand was driven in part by growing demand from outside the organization\u2019s traditional service area.<\/p>\n \u201cLast month we decided to take this program statewide,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s not just Houston that can use help in connecting to appropriate mental health services, but the whole state.\u201d<\/p>\n The Care Connect program\u2019s promotion through healthcare providers, community organizations and public-sector partners across Texas is now one of Mental Health America of Greater Houston\u2019s top priorities.<\/p>\n Their goal is to create a stronger referral ecosystem that ultimately helps those who need access to mental health care more quickly.<\/p>\n To facilitate that, the organization has also added free mental health screenings to its website so that users will better identify any symptoms related to anxiety, depression and other conditions.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce they do that, then where do they go?\u201d Tomczak says. \u201cThey\u2019re not sure who to call and who can help them. At that point, we hope they\u2019ll call us and talk to somebody live who can answer their questions and help them get started on the right path to improving their mental health.\u201d<\/p>\n With eyes on the future, Tomczak believes public understanding of mental health has improved in recent years, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought new attention to the effects of stress, isolation and uncertainty.<\/p>\n \u201cThe more we talk about it and have the opportunity to share that mental health conditions are traceable, the better,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n According to Tomczak, long-term, Care Connect aims to reduce roadblocks that exist between recognizing the need for help and receiving it.<\/p>\n Ultimately, Care Connect hopes to create a robustly connected behavioral health system that gives Texans the ability to access mental health services swiftly and with confidence.<\/p>\n \u201cNo one should have to navigate mental health challenges alone,\u201d Tomczak adds. \u201cCare Connect is here to help connect people with resources, services and answers to ensure they get the care they need to take the next step toward better mental health.\u201d<\/p>\n —<\/p>\n