Mental Health News

Four DFW cities form the East Dallas Response Team to address mental health response

Mesquite, TX – March 24, 2021 – The cities of Balch Springs, Seagoville, Sunnyvale and Mesquite have partnered for the first time to provide funding that will help assemble a cross-jurisdictional approach to address mental health response needs in their communities. The East Dallas Response Team will focus on proactive and reactive mental health services for citizens in all four of these cities. Mesquite will serve as the host agency for the team to coordinate training and operations of the programs that will be shared throughout the four cities.  

The East Dallas Response Team, supported by a $900,000 Dallas County grant, is modeled after similar successful programs around the country. The program’s efforts will include services to check in on residents with a history of mental health issues to insure they are receiving the treatment and services needed.  The team will also assist in the effort to provide assistance to homeless individuals who may not have access to mental health services.  

“I’m thankful to Mesquite and our partner cities who were able to come together for this needed service,” said Sunnyvale’s Town Manager Susan Guthrie. “This would be a challenge for any one city to provide ongoing funding for this type of mental health effort. By pooling our resources between the four cities, we will be able to plant the seeds of a successful program that can grow to meet the needs of the community.”  

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness, states that one in five U.S. adults experience mental illness annually and less than 44% of U.S. adults with mental illness received treatment in 2019. 

“Mental health has been a growing concern across the country and in our community. This team will help reduce the number of calls our police officers respond to and the amount of time we spend handling those calls. We will now be able to get the right resources in a timely manner to those who need them,” said Susan Cluse, City Manager for Balch Springs.  

The county’s grant funds will cover the cost of a vehicle and supplies, salaries for two team members and for training.  “It is important that all aspects of public safety work together to effectively address mental health. The county’s grant will provide sufficient funding for all four cities to train every police officer, fire fighter and dispatcher in crisis response so that each mental health call is handled in a compassionate manner,” said Pat Stallings, Seagoville’s City Manager.

NAMI states the average delay between onset of mental illness symptoms and treatment is 11 years and more than 10% of U.S. adults with mental illness had no insurance coverage in 2019. Nationally, caregivers of adults with mental or emotional health issues spend about 32 hours per week providing care.

Mesquite City Manager Cliff Keheley explained, “Mental health has no boundaries, and neither will this team. We will share our resources. At this time, we don’t know the level of response needed. We are starting with one team and anticipate expanding the number of teams within a few years. The issue of mental health is a high priority for all of our city councils and all four cities have committed to providing funding in future years to maintain the team. The grant from Dallas County was essential to getting the program started. The formation of this team begins our collective journey towards addressing mental health for everyone.”

Mesquite Firefighters and Police Associations donate to Mesquite NAACP Mental Health Scholarship

Mesquite, TX - January 26, 2021 – Today, the Mesquite Police Association and the Mesquite Firefighters Association-Local 1518 teamed up to donate $1,000 towards the Mesquite NAACP’s Mental Health Scholarship Fund that offers funding to students in the Mesquite Independent School District who want to pursue a degree towards a mental health profession.  

Mesquite Mayor Bruce Archer said, “We are so happy to take this next step as one part of the City of Mesquite’s comprehensive plan to address the mental health concerns in our community. Mental health is and continues to be a major issue in communities across the country. The ongoing pandemic has added to the problem. It is a blessing to provide scholarships to local students who want to someday be mental health professionals, and perhaps return to Mesquite to aid us in our efforts on this issue.”

Mesquite Police Association Vice President Richard Andersen and Mesquite Firefighters Association-Local 1518 President Phil Cunningham presented the donation to Mesquite NAACP President Henry Brown during a ceremony in the office of Mayor Archer. Mr. Brown was joined by Mesquite NAACP board members Hosea Fain and Lloyd Jones.

Mayor Archer shared that the City’s comprehensive plan continues to be developed and will include training for public safety responders handling calls for service involving a mental health issue and the addition of staff with expertise in mental health. He also indicated the City plans to continue working with community partners to ensure a multifaceted approach is in place when responding to calls for service that require a mental health professional. 

Dallas Regional Medical Center represented by Chief Executive Officer Glenda Matchett donated in September to support the new scholarship initiative for students, followed by a contribution in November from the USA-Nepal Community Outreach Network led by local physician Vishnu Upadhyay. In October, the City announced it would begin offering its residents access to free mental health counseling and referral services through a new partnership with the AZAR Foundation in which residents can call 833-298-9111 to schedule a virtual or in-person session for individuals, couples and groups.

Mayor Archer explained, “All through America, in every city and in every state, we see the great challenges that mental health can bring to every community with the lack of support, help and treatment. Here in Mesquite we take it very seriously. Our City Council is committed to doing more and more to help with the various issues that make-up the mental health crisis.”

Mesquite offers residents free mental health counseling and referral services

Mesquite, TX – October 26, 2020 – The City of Mesquite has announced it is offering its residents access to free mental health counseling and referral services through a new partnership with the AZAR Foundation. Residents can call 833-298-9111 to schedule a virtual or in-person session for individuals, couples and groups.

Mesquite Mayor Bruce Archer said, “We are so happy to take this first step as part of a large, comprehensive plan to address the mental health concerns for public safety responding to calls for service. Our immediate action with the AZAR Foundation partnership allows us to begin offering help to residents in need of mental health support.” Archer explained the $25,000 agreement with the AZAR Foundation will prioritize services to those residents referred by the Mesquite Police Department. 

Mesquite’s Police Chief Charles Cato said, “We have responded to 81 attempted suicides so far this year. And, we have taken 703 individuals into protective custody in 2020, which is a 14% increase compared to 2019.” Cato shared the Mesquite Police Department has 90 officers with critical incident training and 14 are state certified mental health officers. He stated, “There is no shame in asking for help.”

The City’s comprehensive plan under development will include training for personnel, the addition of personnel with expertise in mental health and working with community partners to ensure a multifaceted approach is in place when responding to calls for service that require a mental health professional.

The announcement of the new free mental health services was made by Mayor Archer along with AZAR Foundation CEO Charlotte Allen. Allen said, “AZAR is pleased to be a partner with the City of Mesquite to provide mental health services to those in need. We are dedicated to the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities entrusted in our care."

In addition to Allen, Mesquite resident and survivor of suicide loss Shirley Weddle shared her story of losing her son Matthew in 2014 to suicide. She said, “There is a stigma related to suicide and mental health. It is important to understand that mental health is brain health which is physical health. We need to continue to bridge the gap between people and resources to understand the symptoms of suicide and how to get help.”

National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness, offers these statistics on the issue of mental health:

• 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year
• 1 in 25 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year
• 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year
• 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24
• Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-34

Mayor Archer explained that mental health is and continues to be a major issue in communities across the country and shared the current pandemic has added to the problem. He said, “Medical professionals and healthcare studies have shown an increase in mental health issues due to the stress, depression and anxiety caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The ‘COVID fatigue’ has created a serious problem of emotional stress. This surge in the mental health crisis has affected everyone from children, parents and employers, to the unemployed, healthcare providers, teachers and the list goes on – no one has been unaffected.”

Mesquite helps local NAACP secure $5,000 for new mental health initiative

Mesquite, TX – September 2, 2020 – Today, Dallas Regional Medical Center donated $5,000 to support the new Mesquite NAACP Behavioral Health Scholarship Initiative to offer funding to minority students in the Mesquite Independent School District who want to pursue a degree in a mental health profession. The donation was presented by Dallas Regional Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Glenda Matchett to Mesquite NAACP President Henry Brown and along with City of Mesquite Mayor Bruce Archer during a ceremony at Mesquite Municipal Center.

CEO Matchett explained, “When I met with the Mayor and he told me about this, I told him that this is something we want to be a part of. The more mental health clinicians we can put in our community in Mesquite, it is better for our patients.”

Mayor Archer said, “We know all through America we are lacking so much when it comes to mental health resources. We must become the safest city in America, the cleanest city in America, the most employed city in America and to become the kindest city in America, and with more support for mental health needs that will help us achieve those goals for our city.”

President Brown stated, “What we are trying to do is put together scholarships for students in MISD that want to pursue any degree in mental health. I am so grateful, I’m so happy, I could cry.”

The City and Mesquite NAACP launched the educational scholarship program to assist minority students who are enrolled in college programs in the area of behavioral health, including social work, psychology, nursing, counseling, marriage and family therapy, substance abuse or mental health training programs. The Mesquite NAACP plans to begin awarding scholarships to full-time college undergraduate students next year.