Texas Mental Health & Community Resources
Finding mental health care can involve more than locating a therapist. Cost, insurance, availability, transportation, family responsibilities, and knowing where to begin can all affect access to support. This directory brings together Texas-based public services, community organizations, crisis resources, and specialized support programs. Whether you are looking for counseling, affordable treatment, family assistance, or help navigating a difficult situation, these resources can help you identify possible next steps.
Where to Start: Finding Help in Texas
If you are unsure which organization to contact, these statewide services can help identify local programs based on your county, ZIP code, and type of need.
A statewide information and referral service that connects Texans with community resources, including mental health services, substance use treatment, housing, food assistance, utility support, transportation, and family services. Search by ZIP code or speak with a representative.
The state's central source for information about public mental health services, substance use treatment, children's behavioral health, crisis services, recovery programs, and community-based support.
The official portal for applying for and managing certain Texas assistance programs, including Medicaid, CHIP, SNAP, and other eligible benefits. Health coverage may help reduce the cost of behavioral health care for eligible individuals.
Use the 2-1-1 search directory to identify local organizations, nonprofit services, and public assistance programs. Searching by ZIP code can be especially helpful when services are county-specific.
Community Mental Health Services
Texas has a statewide network of Local Mental Health Authorities (LMHAs) and Local Behavioral Health Authorities (LBHAs). These organizations coordinate publicly supported mental health services in designated geographic areas.
Start with your county or ZIP code
The correct community mental health provider depends on where you live. Use the official Texas directory to identify the organization responsible for your area and ask about eligibility, intake, available services, waitlists, and costs.
Information about publicly supported mental health services for adults, including community-based care and how to access the local authority responsible for your county.
Texas HHSC describes community mental health services for eligible children and adolescents. Depending on the child's needs and eligibility, services may include counseling, crisis intervention, skills development, and family support.
Information about local crisis response, crisis assessment, intervention, follow-up, and community-based stabilization services.
Important: Public community mental health services are not necessarily the same as private outpatient therapy. Eligibility, clinical criteria, service availability, and financial requirements differ by program. Contact the local authority directly to understand what is available.
Affordable Mental Health Care
If private therapy is financially difficult to access, there may be other options. Ask about income-based fees, Medicaid coverage, community clinics, university training clinics, and publicly funded behavioral health services.
Search for federally supported community health centers. Many health centers provide behavioral health services and use income-based sliding-fee arrangements. Ask each location whether it offers counseling, psychiatric services, or referrals.
Learn about eligibility and apply for health coverage. Covered behavioral health benefits and provider networks depend on the individual's program and managed care plan. Contact the health plan to locate participating providers.
Find local assistance with food, rent, utilities, transportation, childcare, and other practical needs. Addressing these stressors can be an important part of supporting mental health.
Contact your local authority and ask about publicly supported outpatient care, financial eligibility, and available community programs.
When contacting a clinic, ask whether it offers a sliding scale, accepts your insurance, provides services regardless of insurance status, or maintains a reduced-fee waitlist. Do not assume that every community clinic offers every type of behavioral health service.
Mental Health Crisis & Immediate Support
If someone is experiencing severe emotional distress, suicidal thoughts, or an escalating mental health crisis, these resources can help connect them with immediate support.
Free, confidential crisis support for people experiencing suicidal thoughts, emotional distress, substance use concerns, or a mental health crisis. You do not need to be actively suicidal to contact 988.
Texas HHSC provides a county-based directory of local mental health crisis lines. These connect residents with the authority responsible for their area and its crisis response services.
Local mobile crisis teams can provide face-to-face assessment and crisis support in community settings, including a person's home, school, or another location. Services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, where provided by the local authority.
Confidential crisis support for veterans, service members, and their loved ones.
When immediate emergency assistance is needed
If someone is in immediate danger, has a life-threatening medical emergency, or cannot remain safe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
988 is an appropriate starting point for emotional distress and mental health crisis support. It does not replace emergency medical response when someone is in immediate danger.
Children, Adolescents & Family Mental Health
Families may need help navigating behavioral concerns, emotional difficulties, school challenges, developmental needs, or access to appropriate treatment.
Information about community-based mental health services for eligible children and adolescents, including how to contact the local mental health authority.
A statewide initiative focused on coordinating community-based mental health supports for children, adolescents, and families. It promotes family-driven and youth-guided approaches to care.
Free and confidential support for young people, parents, and family members experiencing family conflict, running away, emotional distress, or other difficult circumstances. Staff can help identify options and connect families with local services.
Parent-friendly information about child development, emotional well-being, behavior, and health.
Educational resources for parents and caregivers about children's mental health, learning differences, behavior, and treatment.
Youth, Parenting & Family Support
Emotional distress often occurs alongside family conflict, housing instability, school difficulties, and other life circumstances. These resources can help families identify additional support.
Provides confidential support to youth and families, including referrals for counseling, shelter, and other community services.
A resource for parents seeking help with parenting stress, family conflict, and challenges affecting their family. Check the website for current contact and service options.
Connects families with information about early childhood programs, developmental support, parenting resources, and services for young children.
Pregnancy, Postpartum & Maternal Mental Health
Pregnancy and the postpartum period can involve significant emotional, psychological, relational, and physical transitions. Support is available for individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, birth-related trauma, substance use concerns, or difficulty adjusting to parenthood.
Texas Family Resources provides information about maternal depression, postpartum support, treatment pathways, and programs for pregnant and parenting individuals.
Provides educational information and links to pregnancy and postpartum mental health resources, including county-level support information.
Free, confidential support for pregnant and postpartum individuals experiencing emotional distress or needing someone to talk to.
Provides education, peer support, support groups, and help finding perinatal mental health providers. Services include resources for pregnancy, postpartum adjustment, pregnancy loss, and partners.
Provides maternal and child health information, pregnancy-related resources, and links to public health programs.
If you are experiencing severe confusion, hallucinations, thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, or feel unable to remain safe, seek immediate medical evaluation. Postpartum mental health emergencies require urgent attention.
Substance Use Treatment & Recovery
Texas offers several pathways for people seeking help with alcohol, drug use, prescription medication misuse, and co-occurring mental health and substance use concerns.
Not sure where to begin?
Contact an Outreach, Screening, Assessment and Referral (OSAR) program. OSAR can help Texas residents understand available treatment options and connect with services.
Helps individuals understand substance use treatment options, receive screening and referrals, and navigate available services. OSAR programs are organized by region throughout Texas.
Information about state-supported treatment options, including outpatient care, residential treatment, withdrawal management, medication-assisted treatment, and specialized programs for pregnant women and mothers.
A national treatment locator for mental health and substance use services. Search for facilities and programs by location and treatment needs.
A Houston-area nonprofit offering information, support, and treatment-related resources for individuals and families affected by substance use.
Offers information and access pathways related to substance use treatment, recovery, and medication treatment for opioid use disorder.
Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault & Family Safety
Individuals experiencing abuse, coercive control, stalking, sexual violence, or unsafe family situations may need confidential support, safety planning, shelter, advocacy, or legal assistance.
A statewide organization supporting domestic violence prevention, survivor services, advocacy, and connections to local family violence programs.
Confidential support, safety planning, and referrals for people experiencing domestic violence or relationship abuse.
Provides legal advocacy and resources for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.
Confidential support and referrals for survivors of sexual violence.
Information about Texas family violence programs, shelter services, and support organizations throughout the state.
If a device or browser may be monitored by an abusive person, consider accessing these resources from a safer device. Leaving a website or deleting browsing history does not guarantee that online activity cannot be monitored.
Veterans, Service Members & Military Families
Veterans and military families may have access to specialized behavioral health services, benefits, peer support, and community programs.
Connects Texas veterans and their families with information about benefits, claims assistance, employment, education, and available veteran services.
A Texas-focused resource hub connecting service members, veterans, families, and providers with information about community resources and behavioral health support.
Information about VA mental health care, PTSD treatment, depression, anxiety, substance use treatment, and other services available to eligible veterans.
Community-based counseling centers offering confidential support for eligible veterans, service members, and qualifying family members. Ask the center about eligibility and available services.
Housing, Food, Financial & Community Assistance
Mental health is influenced by the conditions in which people live. Housing instability, food insecurity, financial strain, transportation barriers, and lack of childcare can make emotional difficulties harder to manage. These organizations can help identify practical support.
Search for food banks, rental assistance, utility assistance, transportation, childcare, housing resources, and local nonprofits.
Apply for or manage eligible public assistance programs, including SNAP, Medicaid, and CHIP.
Information about housing assistance, rental resources, and housing-related programs in Texas.
Connects Texans with food bank networks and information about food assistance throughout the state.
Houston & Greater Houston Area Resources
The Houston region includes multiple counties and community mental health providers. The correct referral depends on the county where you live. The organizations below are useful starting points for residents of Harris and surrounding counties.
The local mental health authority serving Harris County. Provides community-based mental health and intellectual and developmental disability services, crisis support, and other programs.
Provides behavioral health and developmental disability services in its designated service area, including Fort Bend, Waller, Wharton, Matagorda, Colorado, and Austin counties.
Community mental health authority serving Liberty, Montgomery, and Walker counties. Contact the organization to ask about services and eligibility.
Provides behavioral health and developmental disability services in its designated Gulf Coast service area. Contact the center to confirm your county and available services.
Houston-area nonprofit providing support and resources for individuals and families affected by substance use.
Houston-area organization offering legal advocacy and support for people experiencing domestic violence.
Houston-based organization offering LGBTQ+ affirming behavioral health, support, and community services. Contact the center for current programs and eligibility.
Houston-area residents should verify their county before contacting a local authority. For example, Harris County is served by The Harris Center, while Fort Bend and Waller counties are served by Texana Center. Service areas and intake procedures can change.
A note about choosing a resource
Not every organization offers the same type of care. Some provide crisis intervention, some coordinate publicly supported services, and others offer education, referrals, advocacy, or treatment. Before scheduling or beginning services, ask about eligibility, licensing, insurance, fees, waitlists, language availability, telehealth options, and the type of care offered.