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By Karyn Brodsky
They say that knowledge is power. In the context of mental health and suicide among children, teenagers, and young adults, access to education is more critical than ever. Families must be equipped to recognize the signs of struggle and seek the necessary help for their loved ones.
This was the realization of the Halliburton family after their son Grant, a Dallas teenager who struggled with depression and bipolar disorder for several years, tragically took his own life in 2005 at the age of 19.
The family didn’t want Grant to be reduced to a statistic concerning mental health; instead, they wished to celebrate his talents as an artist, writer, and musician. Grant’s mother, Vanita Halliburton, along with her family, channeled their grief into a commitment to honor Grant’s memory by providing the resources and education they lacked. This endeavor led to the establishment of the Grant Halliburton Foundation in 2006.
Foundation Initiatives
The Foundation provides diverse educational programs, presentations, and an annual conference focused on mental health, suicide prevention, identifying signs of depression, stress management, resilience building, and coping skills, among other issues affecting youth mental health.
Educational programs available for both young people and adults include the following:
- Building Blocks of Mental Health for children and teens
- Managing Stress and Anxiety
- Depression and Suicide Prevention
- Road to Resilience
- The Teenage Brain: A Work in Progress
- Setting Healthy Boundaries
The adult program for Building Blocks of Mental Health consists of:
- Stress and Anxiety Management: Supporting Youth
- Depression and Suicide Prevention
- Understanding the Teen Brain: A Work in Progress
- Mental Health 101
- Increasing Mental Wellness in the Workplace
Thrive Program
Thrive is a comprehensive mental health education initiative by the Grant Halliburton Foundation aimed at “integrating mental health into the educational landscape.” It enhances awareness, student education, adult training, research, peer support, recognition of warning signs, support services, screening, and early detection within the school community. The Foundation collaborates with over 175 schools to enhance mental health resources through partnered programs such as Hope Squad and telebehavioral health.
Moms and female caregivers dealing with children facing mental health challenges can connect and find encouragement through the Foundation’s Coffee Days peer support groups. The Spanish-language support group, Charlas con un Cafecito, was launched in 2023.
According to Stephanie McGary, LPC-S, RPT-S, Director of Mental Health Education, the mission of the Grant Halliburton Foundation is to fortify the network of mental health resources for children, teenagers, and young adults, to foster improved mental health, and to prevent suicide.
“The urgency for mental health education and resources has never been greater,” she states. “At Grant Halliburton Foundation, we’re rising to meet this pressing need with initiatives that are genuinely transformative and can save lives. We’re present in schools and communities throughout North Texas, educating individuals on how to recognize when someone is struggling and how to extend support. Our various education programs, presentations, and annual conference address topics like mental wellness, suicide prevention, anxiety, coping skills, resilience, and other relevant youth mental health issues.”
Quote from Stephanie McGary
“The need for mental health education and resources has never been more urgent. At Grant Halliburton Foundation, we’re stepping up to meet this challenge with work that is truly life-changing—and life-saving.”
Stephanie McGary, LPC-S, RPT-S, Director of Mental Health Education, Grant Halliburton Foundation
McGary highlights that since its inception in 2006, the Grant Halliburton Foundation has trained over 325,000 students, educators, parents, and professionals to recognize signs of distress and offer support to individuals in crisis. “We are devoted to enhancing access to mental health support and creating a more informed community for everyone,” McGary emphasizes. “We developed HereForTexas.com, an online directory of mental health and addiction resources across North Texas and the Here For Texas Mental Health Navigation Line. These complimentary community tools aim to facilitate easier access for Texans seeking mental health and addiction-related information and services.”
McGary, a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist specializing in family trauma, notes that mental health challenges manifest differently across various cultures. She is passionate about supporting mental health, striving to create environments where both children and adults feel safe and acknowledged—a central focus of the Grant Halliburton Foundation.
“I believe you don’t need to be a licensed therapist to make a therapeutic impact. A compassionate individual who is well-informed about mental health and has access to the right resources can genuinely alter the trajectory of someone’s life. The mission of the Grant Halliburton Foundation is to ensure that individuals of all ages throughout Texas are prepared and empowered to support others in times of mental health crises,” McGary states.
Statistics on Youth Mental Health
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that suicide was the second leading cause of death among young people aged 10 to 24 as of 2020. One in eight Texas high school students acknowledged they attempted suicide in the past year—double the national average (CDC). Texas, on average, loses one teen to suicide daily, and in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, two teens are lost each week.
The Grant Halliburton Foundation hopes that the education, programs, resources, and support they provide will aid children, teens, and young adults grappling with mental health issues in obtaining necessary help, eventually turning these statistics into history.
Upcoming Event Invitation
Join the Grant Halliburton Foundation for an uplifting discussion centered on hope and recovery featuring Drew Robinson at the Beacon of Hope Luncheon.
Drew Robinson is a former Major League Baseball player, mental health advocate, and professional speaker. Hailing from Las Vegas, NV, Drew was drafted by the Texas Rangers straight out of high school and has spent 12 seasons with the Rangers, St. Louis Cardinals, and San Francisco Giants organizations. In 2020, he survived a suicide attempt, which sparked a newfound purpose to help others and challenge the stigma surrounding mental health.
Using the motto “Strength Isn’t Always Physical,” Drew dedicates his efforts to sharing his personal journey and embracing vulnerability to prevent suicide and advance mental health awareness. Currently, he works in the mental health and wellness department for the San Francisco Giants, championing player mental health and promoting peer-to-peer support.
The event will take place on March 25, 2025, at the Omni Dallas Hotel, starting at 11 am. Individual tickets are priced at $225, while sponsorship opportunities begin at $3000.
Click here for Tickets and/or Sponsorship Details.
Statistics Overview
Why are more young people facing mental health issues?
Data from the CDC, the U.S. Surgeon General, The Jed Foundation, and others highlights that today’s youth face challenges unprecedented compared to previous generations, including:
- Nearly half of teenagers report being connected to the Internet “almost constantly.”
- Young individuals aged 15-24 spend less than half as much time with friends compared to those in the same age group two decades ago, leading to feelings of loneliness.
- A doubling of global rates of childhood depression and anxiety symptoms occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Almost 60% of youth aged 16-25 express being very or extremely worried about climate change.
- Three out of five college students experience basic needs insecurity, such as issues with housing, food access, or affordable healthcare.
- 60% of young individuals with major depression do not have access to care and receive no treatment.
Children, teenagers, and young adults encounter these and numerous other challenges, with even more alarming statistics for communities of color, LGBTQ+ youth, those in rural settings, and young women.
Here For Texas Initiative
To address the pressing need for mental health education and resources, the Grant Halliburton Foundation introduced Here For Texas, a program offering two essential community tools.
HereForTexas.com, available in both English and Spanish, provides a searchable database for North Texas providers, helping Texans find mental health and addiction information and resources.
In 2019, the Foundation launched the Here For Texas Mental Health Navigation Line, the first of its kind in North Texas. This free helpline assists callers in locating providers and resources when needed. In the past five years, the Navigation Line has helped over 2,500 callers. Qualified staff answer calls personally, supplying resource information and following up to ensure that the services were received.
Click Here for Additional Resources from the Grant Halliburton Foundation.
988 Suicide & Crisis Hotline: Whether experiencing mental health challenges, emotional distress, issues with alcohol or drugs, or the need for someone to talk to, caring counselors are available. You are not alone.
