I am writing this petition to ask Hidalgo County Commissioners Court officials to increase funding and access to the Mental Health Court.  Last year less than 70 cases were seen in this court limiting access to individuals that suffer from mental health issues. Many of these cases were then seen by regular courts and subsequently, many individuals were not provided with the assistance and support they so desperately need. Instead of accessing help and assistance these courts sent them to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) better known as prison.

This action has been proven to be ineffective at helping individuals with severe mental health issues as TDCJ does not provide individual therapy or the latest treatments available.  Sending the mentally ill to prison retraumatizes the person, and increases anxiety, depression, and PTSD. 

We ask that the governing officials of Hidalgo County make it a priority to increase funding for the mental health court and make adjustments to the current system to allow more of our fellow citizens the opportunity to access the court.  With 1 in 5 Americans suffering from serious mental health issues as a community, we need to prioritize our budgets to address this epidemic as prison is not a solution.  

My family and I have been impacted directly by the lack of funding, transparency, and access to the mental health court and it has been extremely difficult, frustrating, and disappointing to know that many other families in Hidalgo County feel helpless and are at the mercy of a very unjust system. People who suffer from severe mental health issues should be provided with quality treatment, compassion, and empathy for they did not ask to be mentally ill. 

But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 

1 John 3:17-18