Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health

There are an estimated 1200 people participating at the Texas Su***de Prevention Symposium today. So happy to be here with caring, compassionate Texans.

September is Su***de Prevention Month, and now is the time to begin planning how to get involved.

The Su***de Prevention Resource Center’s annual resource makes planning easy for anyone, anywhere, to prepare. It includes tips on how to take action to help prevent su***de in your community, such as learning about effective su***de prevention, sharing resources that promote healing, and encouraging people to be there for those who are struggling.

Download it today to learn how you can get involved: https://bit.ly/4bufffn Su***de Prevention Resource Center

How can organizations sustain program activities beyond initial funding periods?

Join the Southwestern Plains Hub of CMHIS, a project of TIEMH, for "Funding for Sustainment," a three-part learning series designed as a capacity‑building implementation strategy to help small nonprofit and peer‑led organizations' funding approaches and plans for long-term sustainability.

The series will be facilitated by Shannon Higbee, Chief Strategy Officer at the Alliance for Rights and Recovery. With more than 20 years of nonprofit and executive leadership experience, Shannon has a strong track record of securing and managing federal and state funding, designing sustainable program models, and helping organizations diversify funding streams while maintaining fidelity to peer support values.

Participants will learn how to
✔️Assess the funding landscape
✔️Select financing strategies that fit their organization
✔️Develop an actionable plan for long-term sustainment.

Dates: Aug. 4, Aug. 18, and Sept. 1, 2026
Time: 10:30 a.m.–noon CT

🔗Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/4vNJEML

The Texas Behavioral Health and Justice Technical Assistance Center (TXBHJ) recently published a case study exploring the approach, results, and impact of its Housing Learning Community, a six-month program designed to improve housing access for individuals involved in the justice system and living with mental illness, substance use disorders, or intellectual and developmental disabilities.

🔍 The learning community explored housing through the lens of the Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) and supported multidisciplinary teams across Texas to tackle housing challenges using innovative strategies.

Inside the case study, you’ll learn about the:

- Challenges that highlighted the need for the Housing Learning Community
- Structure of the Housing Learning Community
- Established implementation strategies aimed at addressing housing challenges in Texas
- Outcomes and overall impact of the Housing Learning Community

🏠 Read the case study to learn more about how teams across Texas worked to address housing barriers and improve housing access: https://bit.ly/3Tb4d8r

For more information about SIM mappings and upcoming workshops, please contact Lytton St. Stephen at [email protected].

🎉 Employee Spotlight of the Month 🎉

Meet Erin Luby! Erin is a Social Science Humanities Research Associate. She joined TIEMH in 2023, working with the Diversion Technical Assistance team while in graduate school. After graduating, she transitioned to a full-time role with the Money Follows the Person projects. The MFP grant will be wrapping up this fall, and Erin looks forward to contributing to additional projects in the future!

We asked Erin a few questions about working at TIEMH and some fun facts. Here’s what she shared:

🧡 What do you enjoy about working at TIEMH?
I love the range of expertise and interests that TIEMH staff bring to the table. I am constantly blown away by the scope of work that falls under the TIEMH umbrella, and I'm always learning about new initiatives and success stories. There is so much meaningful work happening to improve mental health research and access in Texas, and I feel grateful to play a part in those efforts.

📚 What are you currently reading, watching, or listening to?
I am a big reader! I’m usually reading one fiction novel and listening to a non-fiction book simultaneously. I just finished “Alan Opts Out” and “The Many Lives of Mama Love” — very different books, but I’d recommend them both!

☀️ What's your favorite summer activity?
This is my eighth summer in Austin, but the heat catches me off guard every year! I try to swim as often as possible. We live near the Deep Eddy Pool, and I love getting there early on the weekends. My daughter recently started walking, so I’m excited to explore splash pads across the city with her this summer!

Thank you, Erin, for the great work you do and for sharing more about yourself! We hope everyone stays cool in the summer heat, whether you're swimming at Deep Eddy Pool like Erin or staying in the AC. 🙂

We're excited to share that starting this week through August 1, the winning art from the Texas Mental Health Arts Contest will be displayed at Ground Floor Theatre in Austin! We're grateful for this partnership and the opportunity for our community to view the artwork in person and continue conversations on mental health.

Each year, the contest invites Texans of all ages to share what mental health means to them through traditional art, digital art, writing, and photography.

We’re honored to celebrate this year’s winners and the creativity, honesty, and care reflected in their work. Thank you to every artist who shared their story. Each submission helps move the conversation around mental health forward.

Texas Mental Health Arts Contest Gallery
When: July 8-August 1
Address: 979 Springdale Rd, Suite 122, Austin, TX 78702

The Center for Mental Health Implementation Support (CMHIS) is hosting an upcoming three-session virtual learning series, Data to Action: Turning Findings into Action.

In this series, you'll learn how to make decisions based on evaluation findings, communicate results to different audiences, and create sustainability action plans to support continuous improvement.

📅 Session Dates: July 14, July 28, and August 11, 2026
📍 Open to all states and territories.

Register for the event: https://bit.ly/3QZyVAr

Through the Center for Mental Health Implementation Support (CMHIS) project, our colleagues partnered with I am Bienestar, a community-based nonprofit that addresses access to mental health and emotional care for Latino and immigrant communities in the United States.

Together, CMHIS and I am Bienestar focused on strengthening how the organization shares its mission and connects community members to services.

We're proud to have supported I am Bienestar as it continues to expand access to mental health and emotional wellness services while remaining deeply rooted in the language, culture, and lived experiences of the communities it serves.

View the full project profile here: https://bit.ly/4y2jMPt

Happy 4th of July weekend! This year, we recognize America's 250th anniversary. We hope everyone has a safe weekend whether you're barbequing, boating, spending time with loved ones, or watching the fireworks.

We also recognize that holidays can feel difficult for many people. If you or someone you know needs mental health support, help is available.

Call or text 988 to reach the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline.

Call 2-1-1 for help finding local resources for mental health support, housing, food, healthcare, utility assistance, and other needs.

If you are impacted by severe weather or trauma, call or text 800-985-5990 to reach the Disaster Distress Helpline.

View additional mental health crisis services through Texas Health and Human Services: https://bit.ly/3SK6wPt

We're proud to share that team members from the Innovative Healing Centered Project (IHCP) recently presented two sessions at the Annual Prevention Providers' Meeting (APPM).

Through "Turning Prevention Data into Compelling Stories" and "Sharing Your Story: Dissemination Strategies and Stronger Portfolios," prevention staff learned how to translate evaluation data and program information into clear, audience-focused stories that highlight their impact on youth and families. They also explored dissemination strategies to share those stories more effectively.

Reflecting on the experience, Amy Schryver shared that what stood out to her most was hearing from the IHCP prevention staff about the impact they're having on youth and families.

"Those real stories were powerful. They brought the data to life in a way that numbers alone can’t and reminded me why this kind of storytelling matters so much. It reinforced why we focused on helping teams use what they already have to tell clearer, more compelling stories."