Mental health is just as important as physical health, but many people struggle to access the services they need to improve their well-being. Mental health has several components, including psychological wellness, the interactions you have with others and the emotions you experience on a daily basis.
When it comes to accessing high-quality mental health treatment, some states have more resources than others. Unfortunately, Texas scores at the bottom of the pack when it comes to managing mental illness and ensuring as many people as possible have access to the mental health care they need. Though, we do have some of the best mental health treatment facilities that address mental health disorders.
Keep reading to learn more about mental health and find out why so many people in Texas have difficulty accessing appropriate mental health services and why they trust Alta Loma Transformational Services.
What Affects Your Mental Health?
Many factors affect your mental health and determine whether you’re at risk of developing a mental illness. Some of them are genetic, meaning you may develop a mental health condition or even a serious mental illness because you have specific genetic markers. These markers are short DNA sequences that can affect brain function and other aspects of your mental health.
Your lifestyle also has an effect on your mental health. When you exercise, the brain releases endorphins, chemicals that reduce stress and give you a sense of well-being. Following a balanced diet can help you avoid nutrient deficiencies that can cause mental health symptoms. How often you use alcohol and other substances can also affect your mental health.
Common Types of Mental Illness
Mental Health America reports that researchers have identified more than 200 types of mental illness. Some of these mental health conditions are more common than others.
- Depression: This mood disorder can cause persistent feelings of sadness, irritability, reduced energy, difficulty sleeping and other symptoms.
- Personality disorders: A personality disorder is characterized by unhealthy patterns of thinking, which can make it difficult for an individual to perceive the way others are feeling or relate to others in a healthy way.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder: PTSD develops in some people who’ve experienced or witnessed traumatic events. You may develop post-traumatic stress disorder after experiencing some type of abuse, witnessing violent behavior, living through a natural disaster or having an invasive medical procedure.
- Bipolar disorder: Bipolar disorder affects your mood and energy levels. People with bipolar I disorder typically have manic episodes and depressive episodes. Bipolar II disorder causes depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes, which are less severe than the manic episodes that occur in people with bipolar I disorder.
- Substance use disorder: A substance use disorder affects your brain, making it difficult to control your use of alcohol, illicit substances or prescription medications.
Mental Health in Texas: An Overview
The COVID-19 pandemic has made it more difficult for Texans to access mental health care. Job loss, isolation and other stressors associated with the pandemic have also increased many people’s anxiety levels and contributed to a worsening of mental health symptoms. Between September 29, 2021, and October 11, 2021, 34.2% of adults in Texas reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder. This is higher than the national rate of 31.6%.
Although mental health problems affect many adults, they’re also prevalent among adolescents. Between 2018 and 2019, 14.6% of adolescents reported having a major depressive episode within the past year. Nearly 2% of adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 also report having an alcohol use disorder within the past year, indicating that substance use among young people is a major concern.
Although drug overdose deaths are less common in Texas than in some other states, drug overdoses are still a serious problem in the Lone Star State. Between 2015 and 2020, there were 14.3 overdose deaths per 100,000 people.
All told, about one million Texans struggle with a serious mental illness. Unfortunately, the state suffers from a lack of mental health resources, making it difficult for these people to get the mental health treatment they need to manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.
Mental Health Care in Travis County
If you are looking for mental health treatment for things like bipolar disorder, personality disorder, Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder it may be difficult when only seeking normal psychiatric help. This is where Alta Loma comes into play. Within our facility, we look past the normal treatment plans, promoting a holistic and encompassing treatment program that takes place on-site. We do not farm our residents, or just prescribe countless medications (which can be addictive down the line); we work with our residents to ensure their mental health challenges are met and then introduce community reintegration, job skills training and/or family support to live a better life.
Comprehensive Mental Health Services in Texas
Men in the Lone Star State do have access to services that can help them transform their lives by improving their mental and physical well-being. Alta Loma Transformational Services offers comprehensive treatment for bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders and schizoaffective disorder, ensuring you have access to the most effective treatment methods.
Because Alta Loma Transformational Services focuses on treating these four mental health conditions, staff members are highly skilled at developing customized treatment plans and recognizing when a resident’s treatment needs to be adjusted based on changing symptoms.
Alta Loma Transformational Services also offers more than one type of treatment, ensuring you get the right combination of services based on the severity of your symptoms. These levels of treatment include partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient treatment and supportive housing for men who are ready to regain their independence.
If you’ve been struggling to access mental health services in Texas, call 866-457-3843 to learn more about how Alta Loma Transformational Services can help you get your life back on track.
