Equity & Access · Texas behavioral health news
Mental health care is out of reach for 1 in 5 Texas children, mothers say - Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Mental Health Equity (Google News) · September 29, 2025
In plain language
A recent national survey reveals that one in five Texas mothers have struggled to get mental health care for their children. Families with private insurance often face more obstacles than those using public programs like Medicaid, with high costs and long wait times being the main barriers. While the Texas legislature recently increased funding for youth crisis teams and suicide prevention lifelines, funding for some Medicaid mental health programs has decreased. Mothers and advocates are calling for better insurance coverage and more mental health services based in schools to help children get support earlier.
AI-generated summary of the source article. Not medical advice.
Key takeaways
- One in five Texas mothers report being unable to access mental health services for their child when they need it.
- Families with private insurance face more difficulty accessing child mental health care than families using Medicaid.
- High costs and long wait times are the most significant obstacles preventing Texas children from receiving treatment.
- Texas lawmakers recently increased funding for mobile youth crisis teams and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
- A decrease in state funding for the Youth Empowerment Services Waiver program may limit mental health support for some children.
- Most mothers surveyed believe that expanding mental health services in schools is essential to solving the current crisis.
Mental health care is out of reach for 1 in 5 Texas children, mothers say Fort Worth Star-Telegram
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