Faced with a crisis, City of San Antonio officials are working on a solution to support people during a mental health crisis.

A polo shirt and jeans aren’t the uniform anyone would typically expect from a police officer or a paramedic. For crisis mental health teams, dressing down is a part of the job.

In KSAT’s “Crisis in Question” series, our team is taking a closer look at the different kinds of crisis response in San Antonio and Denver.

It’s a big development for Bexar County. S.M.A.R.T., the county’s crisis mental health response team, is now a 24/7 operation.

Texas prohibits people with assault convictions, among other felonies, from becoming social workers. A new lawsuit says the ban is unconstitutional.

SA CORE is a co-responder team, meaning police officers are a part of our crisis response equation. That can often be a point of criticism.

Veteran’s Day is approaching, and Military City USA is doing its part in honoring and serving veterans by offering free services.

Thousands of mental health calls are made to 911 in San Antonio each year. KSAT is taking a closer look at the effectiveness of the city’s crisis response team.

The University of Texas at San Antonio announced all of its classes for Friday, Nov. 8 have been canceled.

The national licensing board announced it will consider folding the proposed skills test into an existing exam amid worries the additional hurdle would discourage applicants.

Doomscrolling is when you spend a lot of time on social media watching videos in a non stop loop. The bad habit can bring on negative mental health problems.

In Military City USA, several organizations provide mental health resources. Some are geared toward veterans’ needs.

Lawmakers and child care centers are pushing for a statewide mental health system for toddlers.

An independent business in Seguin is opening its doors to the community on Saturday for a free mental health fair.

Texas lawmakers designated September 22 as Veterans Suicide Prevention Awareness Day as a way to save the lives of those who have risked their lives for our freedom.

Texas hasn’t increased Medicaid rates for inpatient health care at private hospitals in 16 years, falling behind other states.

Other states look to Texas as the state psychology board pushes against the new national licensing requirements.

New data shows progress has been made in getting more calls answered since the number was shorted two years ago. But there is still more work to be done.

Healthcare workers and faith-based communities say that mental health isn't something to shy away from talking about, but rather something everyone should discuss.

The service is free for students, and paid for by the school system

It's common for teachers to fundraise for all those pricey classroom school supplies, but one San Antonio teacher has raised money for something very unique — making her classroom a mental health oasis.

Mentorship goes beyond providing career advice to young adults, it can open doors to an education about life

From the struggle of finding your spot on a football team to feeling alone in life, University of the Incarnate Word defensive lineman Devin Grant has been through a lot. In the process of finding a way to share parts of his journey, he created a clothing brand that highlights the struggles of mental health.

Future Texas therapists must complete internships to start their careers, but there’s not enough providers to mentor all of the students.

Health care contractor Turn Key serves nearly 70 counties across Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Colorado, Kansas and Montana.

Alpha Home, a 56-year-old San Antonio institution serving women with substance use disorder, has expanded its reach even further.

The two leading mental health units — SA Core and S.M.A.R.T. — have increased their response hours this summer.

This week marks two years since the national suicide lifeline was dropped from a 1-800 phone number to a three-digit emergency number, 988. Anyone can call, text, chat, or video call to get to a crisis counselor.

Under a Harvard Medical School pilot program, church members and leaders will work as interns before counseling on their own, referring more serious cases to medical providers.

A guide to some of the professions that make up the mental health workforce.

County jails are often referred to as the largest mental health facility in the area.

With a push for more resources and a nearing milestone, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention aims to spread awareness.

Over the last year, Melissa Perez’s death has pushed people across San Antonio to question how the city handles mental health calls.

The construction begins after lawmakers have allocated $2.5 billion to modernize and increase access to inpatient psychiatric care in Texas.

While primary care is experiencing its own workforce shortage, the profession is shouldering more mental health screenings to help bridge the behavioral health provider gap.

A new in-patient facility exclusively for pediatric mental health patients officially opened Tuesday on the Northeast Side.

The Uvalde Police Department has created a new position dedicated to mental health and family violence investigations as part of its Guardian Initiative.

The San Antonio Fatherhood Campaign has helped thousands of dads deal with their own trauma, learn about healthy relationships, and become incredible parents. It's stopping the cycle of family and community violence.

Thousands of people are discharged from Texas mental health hospitals yearly, and so-called step-down programs like clubhouses can help them integrate back into the community.

A local mental health expert says prolonged days of excessive heat take a toll on the mind as much as on the body.

The state’s flood plan shows which Texans are most at risk of flooding and suggests billions of dollars more are needed for flood mitigation projects.

After a heavily-lauded start, city leaders were quick to clamor for a rapid expansion of the SA CORE program. The three-member teams already provide citywide coverage, and around-the-clock coverage is a little more than a month away.

Pecantown Books & Brews invites the public to a free Mental Heath awareness event on May 25.

The nonprofit Any Baby Can San Antonio is making sure families have all the support and services they need after the loss of a child.

The gym is offering all teens a free membership from June 1 through Aug. 31 to encourage physical and mental wellness.

Since 2019, accidental drug deaths have been rising in Texas, with the number tripling in Travis County.

The facility has 240 single-person rooms, a basketball gym and outdoor courtyards. It’s part of a $2.5 billion overhaul of the state’s mental health hospital system.

The mental health workforce shortage is more acute in rural areas, adding to rising patient loads in hospital ERs.

As the weather turns nicer and the spring and summer sporting season is upon us, it’s important for parents to remember that “it’s just a game”.

Circle of Arms executive director Larissa Martinez said there is a growing push to prioritize conversations about mental health after the Bexar County Medical Examiner confirmed a young mother died by suicide this week.

PTSD, suicide, and brain injuries plague our military and veteran communities, and local researchers are taking action. Eight new studies were just funded to research how we can best treat those conditions.

The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office has a new staff member — a support K9.

More than 40% of the state’s population is Hispanic, but its mental health provider population is more than 80% white.

The court re-sentenced Gallo to life in prison for the murder of his girlfriend’s 3-year-old daughter.

Faced with a nagging mental health provider shortage, the state psychologists’ licensing board is looking into whether the state should devise its own exam to get professionals licensed more quickly.

Many independent school districts, including the largest ones, do not allow chaplains to serve as counselors, which is now allowed under a new Texas law.

Many Texas faith groups have offered counseling services in the past. But more of them are expanding their programs, partnering with providers, to help meet the growing need here for mental health services.

Whether it’s a fatal car accident, murder, or crime against a child -- San Antonio police officers are among the first on the scene.

Trauma-informed care goes beyond acknowledging the need for mental health resources. It takes a proactive approach, so people don't feel alone.

Information-rich public libraries are using their websites and facilities to address the ever-increasing demand for counseling, housing and substance abuse services.

A new report shows Gen Z and Millennials want more therapy and are talking about mental health.

After nationwide warnings, lawsuits against social media companies, and medical evidence about social media's negative affect on youth, Bexar County and the state of Texas are taking action. The new CHAAT program teaches kids and parents about what's really happening and what to do about it.

The Department of Human Services’ San Antonio Youth Commission and the Metropolitan Health District’s Project Worth Teen Ambassadors have opened the third annual teen mental health survey.

A program in San Antonio is offering free mental health training to faith-based communities for people of color. The program will help break stigma and unravel generational trauma and isolation.

The word "narcissist" has gotten somewhat trendy. It’s one of the most searched terms on the internet. However, mental health experts want you to hold off on using it so often to describe people you don’t like.

SAPD is considering adding a new option -- mental health -- for 911 calls.

Maurine Molak lost her son, David, to suicide in 2016. Last week, she joined other parents who lost loved ones to online abuse on Capitol Hill, as lawmakers questions social media executives.

For many people, the ability to prioritize health is a luxury. Those living in poverty or experiencing homelessness have to decide between buying food, or prescription medications. That's why a new free mediation program is helping Haven for Hope clients find true clarity and success.

Mental health disorders are an epidemic and children are not immune. Studies show nearly 7.7 million children and teens have at least one treatable mental health disorder.

If you are looking to find peace, be less stressed or fight depression this year — why not start gardening?

Listening to the news of tragedies can be hard on anyone, from those directly connected to viewers who are keeping up with the story. Here are some resources that can help those dealing with grief or mental health struggles.

It’s no secret that many people don’t have access to mental health care. Right now, members of the House of Representatives are pushing for a bill that would change that.

On Sat

The pandemic brought light to mental health crisis within the walls of our schools. With counselors overloaded, the state turned to a digital outlet.

San Antonio veteran Rich Stinson now openly talks about his struggles with mental health, but it hasn't always been the case. Stinson said he's on a journey to healing, and he wants to let other veterans know they're not alone.

For some battling mental illness, the holiday season can be the most difficult time of the year, as high expectations, loneliness, stress, and anxiety could all lead to a mental health breakdown.

There are two new facility dogs helping comfort, support and spread love to staff at Brooke Army Medical Center or BAMC.

A lack of private providers, a swamped community mental health system, and low insurance reimbursement have cut off many in Texas from basic mental health services.

The City of San Antonio funds the only residential facility in Bexar County that treats co-occurring conditions, meaning people with both substance use and mental health disorders. A sharp drop in funding this year cut the bed number by 72%.

The Ecumenical Center, a trauma-informed organization with specialized counselors, will not have its contract renewed past April 2024 to run the Uvalde Together Resiliency Center.

The Uvalde County Commissioners Court voted to not renew their contract with the Ecumenical Center, which has provided counseling services to the community after the Robb Elementary shooting in May 2022.

A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report showed a new record for people using firearms in suicides. Texas gun safety and mental health advocates say the report highlights a need for gun laws the state does not have.

A local study last year placed therapy dogs at a dialysis center where they found huge success with patients showing up to their appointments. Now, the same doctor is bringing those dogs to her UT Health San Antonio psychiatry patients.

The Baptist Medical Center is holding its annual Holiday Memorial Service this Sunday to help those who are coping with grief over the upcoming holidays.

The holidays can bring on added stress to your life and it's best to work through it so you don't get overwhelmed.

Giving Tuesday is a chance for you to give to a cause that you feel strongly about and a local San Antonio-area doctor says it can also be good for your soul.

The region that includes Amarillo, a Panhandle city of more than 200,000 people, and surrounding towns has long been a mental health care desert. Officials hope a new $159 million hospital can help reduce a massive spike in suicide attempts.

I think it’s safe to say that we’re all a little bit anxious these days.

A new app called “Dateability” aims to remove the stigma surrounding finding love for differently-abled individuals.

With an aging population on the rise, more seniors are experiencing social isolation than ever before. However, one organization is stepping up to help spark new connections and friendships.

There’s a new safe space for students to deal with their emotions and refocus their attention at Margil Elementary School.

As the community grapples with this horrifying event, a member of the victim’s family is speaking out on the role of mental health and what they believe could have been done to prevent this.

Generation Z is the youngest, most diverse generation in the workforce today. They are different than past generations.

Miranda Michel, 26, couldn’t leave the state for an abortion. But she also couldn’t bear the idea of carrying a nonviable pregnancy to term.

Like many regions in Texas, the county jails and hospitals have been at capacity with people needing mental health help. Local leaders hope a new 200-bed facility will alleviate pressure.

September is Suicide Prevention Month. As this month ends, suicide prevention advocates across San Antonio are talking about mental health, specifically for veterans and racial minorities.

Panetti murdered his in-laws in 1992. The U.S. Supreme Court in 2007 set new court precedent with his case, raising the bar on the constitutional restriction against executing the insane.

It's been three months since officers shot and killed Melissa Perez. The department is working to expand its mental health unit to increase its response.

The Frontline Healing Foundation assists veterans and first responders with funding for treatment programs.

After nearly a decade in the vibrant city of San Antonio, my husband and I are embarking on a new chapter as we prepare to move to the East Coast.