Local News
Current news regarding health & resilience in Williamson, Travis, Hays, Comal, Bastrop, Caldwell, and Bexar Counties in Central Texas.
Rebuilt Austin State Hospital expands psychiatric care in Central Texas
Officials celebrated the grand opening of the rebuilt Austin State Hospital May 15. The facility includes 240 patient rooms and amenities.
FROM: Community Impact
Local organizations, schools work to combat nursing shortages in Central Texas
A handful of Austin-area organizations and educational institutions are working to combat projected nursing shortages with special programs, partnerships and scholarships.
FROM: Community Impact
Over 1 million Texas children dropped from Medicaid since April 2023
Texas has removed more children from Medicaid than any other state, according to a new Georgetown University report.
FROM: Community Impact
UT Health San Antonio establishes Be Well Institute on Substance Use and Related Disorders
Pioneering initiative advances research, treatment, recovery support and education
FROM: Be Well, Texas
Specialty court becomes first certified Level 1 Trauma-Informed court in Bexar County
Reflejo Court is a 12-month program for first time offenders of family violence
FROM: KSAT
Williamson County partnership increases access to durable medical equipment
An agreement between Williamson County EMS and AGE of Central Texas seeks to increase access to durable medical equipment.
FROM: Community Impact
$17 million goes to local researchers studying military PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, suicide
UT Health San Antonio’s STRONG STAR consortium will conduct eight new studies with grant money.
FROM: KSAT
Rural Texas emergency departments face mounting mental health crisis
Across the state, rural hospitals face a shortage of mental healthcare providers.
FROM: Texas Community Health News
New San Antonio school offers inclusive setting, latest therapies in classroom
Rise School of San Antonio to open in August
FROM: KSAT
Texas is struggling to diversify its mental health workforce as the state becomes less white
More than 40% of the state’s population is Hispanic, but its mental health provider population is more than 80% white.
FROM: The Texas Tribune
Newly opened San Antonio facility treats substance use patients statewide
A new 20,000-square-foot center conducts research and provides education and training for providers.
FROM: Be Well, Texas
St. David’s Medical Center pioneers life-saving heart arrhythmia treatment
The Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at Austin's St. David’s Medical Center was the first hospital in the U.S. to pioneer a life-saving treatment system for those affected by heart arrhythmia after it received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
FROM: Community Impact
Travis County moving forward with mental health diversion program
Commissioners got an update on how the project is coming along on Tuesday afternoon. Here's what's been done so far.
FROM: KVUE
Central Texas mobile mammogram clinic Big Pink Bus gets an upgrade
Lone Star Circle of Care’s mobile mammogram unit, the Big Pink Bus, recently moved into a new bus to continue to provide free or low-cost mammograms for preventative breast health care.
FROM: Community Impact
‘It’s changing a culture:’ SAPD is first law enforcement agency to be trauma-informed care certified
Trauma-informed care goes beyond acknowledging the need for mental health resources
FROM: KSAT
Liberty Hill nonprofit Yesterday’s Gone brings transitional housing, support services to trauma survivors
Founded and led by Loree Tamayo, Yesterday’s Gone serves and provides transitional housing for women rebuilding their lives after trauma and abuse.
FROM: Community Impact
‘I was just so isolated’: Teen applauds new program targeting social media’s impact on youth mental health
Program has presentations on online gaming, online grooming, social media, sleep hygiene
FROM: KSAT
Texas Tobacco Quitline Service Enhancements Will Help Texans Overcome Addiction
Texans overcoming tobacco addiction can now access more cessation tools through the Texas Department of State Health Services’ Texas Tobacco Quitline.
FROM: Texas Health & Human Services
Georgetown Police Launches Mental Health Crisis Team
Georgetown's number of mental health 911 calls has grown so large that the police have created a new team to address the issue. The unit is called the Crisis Intervention Team.
FROM: Texas Behavioral Health & Justice Technical Assistance Center
San Antonio's mental health crisis team, SA CORE expands city-wide
Last September, city council set aside more than $7 million in funding to expand services city-wide. That expansion started in January.
FROM: KENS5