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**A Call for Help**
By Vanita Halliburton | Contributor
“Hello, Mrs. Halliburton. This is the eighth-grade school counselor. I’m calling about your son. It seems he has been cutting himself lately, and I think you will want to get some help for him right away. Do you know a therapist or psychiatrist?”
This was the call I received from my son’s middle school on a sunny day while I was 1,000 miles from home on a business trip. I was taken aback. I remember stepping outside a meeting to take the call, and when I hung up, I found myself sitting on a curb, crying. I didn’t know what else to do.
The truth is, I had never even heard of cutting. The counselor explained that it was a form of self-harm associated with emotional pain. Emotional pain? How could it be that my carefree, beautiful boy appeared so joyful on the outside but was silently struggling within? This young teenager, who brightened every room with his humor and charm, seemed a world away from such distress.
I understood we needed to seek help for him. Unfortunately, I was confronted with an unexpected challenge.
**Navigating the Search for Help**
I was at a loss regarding the type of “help” we needed, let alone how to find it or whom to ask for advice.
I could easily reach out to anyone for a referral for a doctor or dentist—friends, neighbors, co-workers, family members, or other parents—but this was about mental health. The stigma surrounding mental illness compelled me toward secrecy and silence.
I hesitated to share with anyone that my child was grappling with a mental health crisis, self-harming as a result of deep emotional turmoil.
Eventually, I remembered the name of a therapist I barely knew, someone I had heard speak at a meeting once. She turned out to be an excellent professional who supported my son in managing his chronic depression over the next five years.
That incident occurred 18 years ago. Sadly, stigma surrounding mental illness continues to prevail. Many individuals still hesitate to seek help for anxiety, depression, substance abuse, eating disorders, and other mental health issues. People are often unaware of where to turn for information, referrals, or guidance concerning mental health care. Stigma remains one of the main obstacles preventing individuals from pursuing treatment.
In 2005, my son was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and admitted to a psychiatric unit for 30 days. Tragically, he took his own life just two weeks after being discharged at the age of 19.
The nonprofit organization established in his honor, Grant Halliburton Foundation, is dedicated to enhancing the network of mental health resources available for children, teens, and young adults; advocating for better mental health; and working to prevent suicide.
We accomplish this by educating young people—and the adults in their lives—about mental health and suicide prevention. Last year, we trained over 35,000 students, school staff, parents, and professionals in recognizing and responding to individuals in emotional distress or experiencing suicidal crises. Our organization also provides peer support groups for parents of youth facing mental health or addiction challenges.
Finding suitable mental health resources tailored to your situation can prove to be a frustrating, confusing, and daunting task.
You may first wonder whether you need a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist. Should you consult your doctor or pediatrician first? Is obtaining a mental health assessment necessary? How do you determine that? Are you in a crisis situation that might necessitate hospitalization? Are you aware of your insurance options or need low-cost or no-cost services? Do you require someone who speaks Spanish or another language? So many questions!
We have answers.
**Introducing the Here For Texas Mental Health Navigation Line**
Grant Halliburton Foundation has launched the Here For Texas Mental Health Navigation Line, a free helpline designed to offer callers information and options for resources that cater to their specific mental health care needs.
Here’s how it operates. When you call the Mental Health Navigation Line, a trained navigator will attentively listen to your needs, collect details such as the kind of mental health services sought, the patient’s age, language preference, preferred service location, and other pertinent information. Subsequently, a team of licensed mental health professionals at Grant Halliburton Foundation will conduct research on potential resources and email you details, including names and contact information for options that may suit your requirements. A week or two later, a mental health navigator will follow up to check if you received the information and if you require further assistance.
This new helpline is the first of its kind in North Texas, accessible to anyone seeking resources for themselves or others, such as family members, patients, clients, students, or friends. Callers to the navigation line will find guidance, information, and resources related to mental illness and substance use issues.
This community resource complements Grant Halliburton Foundation’s HereForTexas.com website, which contains a comprehensive database of over 700 mental health providers and resources in North Texas.
You can reach the Here For Texas Mental Health Line at 972-525-8181, Monday through Friday, between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
When I received that phone call from the middle school counselor, I would have done anything to have had a trained mental health navigator available to help me find the resources I needed for my son. I am proud that Grant Halliburton Foundation can offer this kind of support.
For more information, please visit HereForTexas.com.
*Editor’s Note: Vanita Halliburton is co-founder and executive chairman of Grant Halliburton Foundation, a nonprofit established in 2006 following the suicide death of her son, Grant Halliburton.*
**Recognizing Warning Signs of Mental Illness**
**A Change in Personality.** If someone is behaving differently, or not acting like their usual self, this can be a warning signal.
**Uncharacteristic Anxiety, Anger, or Moodiness.** Significant emotional changes can be alarming, especially if they persist.
**Social Withdrawal and Isolation.** If a person is becoming socially withdrawn, canceling plans, or spending excessive amounts of time alone, this is a serious warning indicator of emotional or mental health challenges.
**Lack of Self-Care or Risky Behaviors.** Individuals with mental health struggles may disregard their health and well-being, becoming engaged in risky activities like substance abuse. A lack of hygiene or indifference towards their appearance can also indicate mental health concerns.
**A Sense of Hopelessness or Feeling Overwhelmed.** Mental health challenges often lead people to feel despondent, as if life has become too burdensome or that they will never return to “normal.”
– American Psychological Association
**Symptoms of Mental Illness in Children May Include:**
– Changes in school performance
– Excessive worry or anxiety, such as resisting going to bed or attending school
– Hyperactive behavior
– Frequent nightmares
– Recurrent disobedience or aggression
– Regular temper tantrums
**Here For Texas Mental Health Navigation Line**
Connecting Texans to Resources for Mental Health and Addiction
972-525-8181
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday – Friday
**Suicide Prevention Lifeline**
Free and confidential emotional support for people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress
1-800-273-8255
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
**Interested in Becoming a Mental Health Navigator?**
