In rural Texas, ERs are facing a growing mental health crisis

The mental health workforce shortage is more acute in rural areas, adding to rising patient loads in hospital ERs.

By Liza Kalinina, The Texas Tribune

For 24/7 mental health support in English or Spanish, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s free help line at 800-662-4357. You can also reach a trained crisis counselor through the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.

Across Texas, rural hospitals face a shortage of mental health care providers, with over 60% of rural counties designated as provider shortage areas by the Health Resources and Service Administration.

At the same time, the number of people experiencing mental health crises has increased, and these patients are often forced to seek care in the emergency room of rural hospitals, where they face long waits for treatment and use resources that are needed by patients with critical conditions.

Terry Scoggin, CEO of the Titus Regional Medical Center (TRMC), says his and other rural hospital ERs are the primary place where mental health patients are taken despite the fact that ER doctors are not trained to treat mental health conditions.

"The emergency department is a very hectic, chaotic, life-and-death area. It's not the best environment for a mental health person or person with drug overdose," Scoggin said.