Mental Health Resources: Texas Flooding
For emergencies, dial 911. For immediate mental health support, call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990.
Mental health resources are critical to supporting individual and community recovery in the aftermath of a disaster. Though many businesses and health insurance companies offer mental health services and resources that may be available to those affected, if you or someone you know is in crisis and need of support, the following resources also are currently available for communities affected by the central Texas flooding.
National Disaster Distress Helpline
Call or text 800-985-5990. Counselors are available 24/7 to respond to people who need crisis counseling after experiencing a traumatic event or a disaster. Counselors are trained to offer support to people who may be experiencing a range of symptoms. Support is available and provided in multiple languages.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness
Provides a comprehensive list of crisis resources, including free mental health programs, guides for supporting mental health and managing stress after an emergency, and local support and recovery resources. For more information, go to namicentraltx.org. For immediate support, call the helpline Monday through Friday at 512-420-9810.
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Offers a toolkit of resources and guides to help parents and caregivers talk with and support children affected by severe flooding events. Additional resources are at nctsn.org.
Red Cross
Provides online Guides for Taking Care of Your Emotional Health in nine languages. Find more at RedCross.org.
The Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
Has compiled mental health resources for the Texas floods, including pocket cards with fast facts on how to implement rapid psychological first aid and respond to an acute stress response; resources for first responders; and free training on how to protect mental health and foster resilience after disasters.
Crisis Text Line
Free, confidential support available at any time by texting HOME to 741741.
Texas Health and Human Services Commission
Offers a 24/7 Central Texas Flooding Emotional Support Line that provides confidential, professional crisis counseling at no cost to survivors, families and first responders. Call 833‑812‑2480 or visit their website for more disaster behavioral health.
The Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas
Has extensive resources on how to talk to children, family and community about grief and about how to manage stress and anxiety. Resources are available here.
Hill Country MHDD Centers
This state-appointed local mental health authority for 19 counties in central Texas, including Kerr and Menard counties, recently established Hill Country Hearts, a program offering free after-flood mental health support. Resources include emotional support and counseling with licensed professionals, resource-navigation support facilitated by care coordinators, a safe space for families and a children’s comfort zone at their Drop-In Center. Services are available in English and Spanish. The Drop-In Center is located at 819 Water Street, Kerrville, TX 78028 (inside One Schreiner Center, first floor). The Drop-In Center is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 830-955-1745 or visit www.hillcountryhearts.com.
Endeavors
This San Antonio-based nonprofit offers free mental health and disaster relief services, including individual and group counseling (both in-person and via telehealth), confidential care coordination by licensed social workers and targeted support for schools and first responders. Services are available in English and Spanish. For more information, email RequestsForAssistance@endeavors.org or visit endeavors.org/texas-hill-country-floods.
Here for Texas
This program, offered through the Grant Haliburton Foundation, offers post-disaster mental health resources, including tips on how to support children through trauma and grief, lists of local mental health providers and a mental health navigation line that is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 972-525-8181 or visit www.herefortexas.com.
Texas A&M Health Telehealth Institute
This program offers telehealth counseling services in both English and Spanish to underserved communities throughout Texas. Many services are provided at no cost and delivered by local professionals with diverse specialties and licenses. Support is available for a range of concerns, including depression, anxiety and trauma. For more information and to complete an eligibility screening, visit telehealth.tamu.edu/clinical-care/index.html.
Free Psychological First-Aid Training
Those interested in taking a deeper dive into how they can best support their families and loved ones during a crisis can take a free, two-hour, online course developed by International Medical Corps on the basics of Psychological First Aid, found at www.disasterready.org/principles-of-psychological-first-aid.