Equity & Access · Texas behavioral health news
In jail instead of a hospital; the struggle to get mental health treatment in Texas - CBS News
Mental Health Equity (Google News) · November 12, 2025
In plain language
Many people with serious mental health conditions in Texas are being held in county jails because there are not enough psychiatric hospital beds available. Because forensic hospital waitlists are so long, some individuals stay in jail for months or even years while waiting for treatment to become fit for trial. Local sheriffs and doctors report that jails have become the state's largest mental health providers by default. While the state is currently building several new hospitals to increase capacity, the current shortage continues to impact hundreds of families across North Texas.
AI-generated summary of the source article. Not medical advice.
Key takeaways
- Texas county jails currently house a high percentage of inmates who require mental health or developmental services.
- The average wait for a state forensic psychiatric bed can range from six to eight months.
- Approximately 1,700 people in Texas are currently on waitlists for secure hospital treatment beds.
- State officials have dedicated 2.5 billion dollars to build or renovate psychiatric hospitals in several Texas cities.
- One-third of people who tried to voluntarily enter state psychiatric hospitals recently were turned away due to lack of space.
In jail instead of a hospital; the struggle to get mental health treatment in Texas CBS News
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