Mental Health Services for Children & Adolescents
THE URGENT NEED
47%
of pediatric hospital stays are for psychiatric conditions
9 out of 10
Texas counties have zero psychiatric inpatient beds
#50
Texas' national rank in in mental health provider availability
The Texas Legislature appropriated $1.5 million to the Texas A&M University System to study inpatient mental health services for children and adolescents in Texas. The state needed an in-depth analysis of the currently available, pediatric mental health resources to support the development of a state-wide strategic plan to address the child and adolescent mental health crisis. As a result, the Texas A&M University Health Science Center led a two-year study (2023-2025) to assess the needs and availability of inpatient child and adolescent mental health care in Texas. This study aimed to do 5 things:
- Estimate need and utilization patterns of pediatric mental health services
- Determine evidence-based best practices
- Gain insights from experts and successful programs in other states
- Learn about the current experiences of those seeking and providing care
- Reimagine the landscape of pediatric inpatient mental health care in Texas