Our family, like many others in Texas, is struggling. We are a low-income family with a grandson who needs more than just outpatient mental health services. The lack of facilities for children in our state forced us to drive over two hours to Shreveport just to get him the help he needs. This journey not only cost us precious time but also money that we can ill afford to spare.

Once we arrived, we had to wait another two hours before he could be admitted due to the number of families ahead of us seeking help for their children. This experience opened our eyes to the desperate need for local and accessible inpatient mental health facilities for children within Texas.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year, and half of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14. Despite these alarming statistics, states like ours continue without adequate resources or facilities dedicated specifically towards treating young people's mental health issues.

We cannot stand idle while our children suffer due to lack of access and distance from necessary healthcare services. We call upon lawmakers and healthcare providers alike: establish dedicated inpatient mental health facilities for children within Texas now! Please sign this petition if you believe that every child deserves access to comprehensive mental healthcare close at home.