General · Texas behavioral health news
'We need help': Advocates, families plead for Texas to improve capacity, access in state hospitals - KERA News
Texas HHSC (Google News) · April 30, 2026
In plain language
Families and advocates are calling on Texas to improve access to state mental health hospitals as waitlists grew to thousands of people. Because there are not enough hospital beds, many individuals in a mental health crisis end up waiting in county jails for months or even years. State officials are working on a long-range plan to modernize facilities and hire more staff to meet the rising demand. The final report, due in August, will suggest ways to better coordinate care and reduce the number of people cycle through the criminal justice system.
AI-generated summary of the source article. Not medical advice.
Key takeaways
- More than 70% of Texas state hospital patients are now admitted through the criminal justice system.
- People in some counties may wait over 400 days in jail for a state hospital bed.
- The state has spent over $2 billion since 2017 to renovate and expand psychiatric hospitals.
- Texas is developing a long-range plan to improve staffing and create regional specialty care hubs.
- Waitlists for inpatient care reached nearly 2,000 unique entries in the 2025 fiscal year.
'We need help': Advocates, families plead for Texas to improve capacity, access in state hospitals KERA News
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