Mental Health in Texas

17 verified resources.

About Mental Health for Fathers

Mental health services in the US range from free crisis lines and public community mental health centers to private therapy and inpatient care. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline operates 24/7 nationwide and is free and confidential. SAMHSA's National Helpline (1-800-662-HELP) connects callers with local treatment resources for mental health and substance use. Community Mental Health Centers exist in every state and serve people regardless of ability to pay, usually on sliding-scale fees. Medicaid covers mental health care in all states, and the ACA requires insurance plans to cover mental health at parity with medical care. Fathers are particularly at risk for undiagnosed depression, anxiety, and substance issues around separation and custody disputes — this directory surfaces crisis lines, low-cost therapy, support groups specifically for men, and state mental health authorities.

Mental Health in Texas

Texas district courts hear family matters across its 254 counties, with many urban counties operating dedicated family courts. The Texas Attorney General's Child Support Division runs enforcement statewide. Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, and Fort Worth are the largest metros. Texas Legal Services Center, Lone Star Legal Aid, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, and Texas RioGrande Legal Aid cover the state.

17 Resources

1. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Free

Call or text 988 anytime to reach a trained crisis counselor — free, confidential, 24/7/365. Live chat also available at 988lifeline.org. Counselors help with suicidal thoughts, emotional distress, anxiety, grief, relationship crises, and more. No insurance, ID, or appointment needed. Veterans can press 1 after dialing for specialized veteran support. Spanish-language counselors available. Calls are confidential and no personal information is required to receive help.

988 · 24/7/365 · Visit Website

2. SAMHSA National Helpline — Free

Free, confidential helpline providing information and referrals for mental health and substance use disorders in English and Spanish. Text your ZIP code to 435748 (HELP4U) for local help. Call 1-800-662-4357 anytime — available 24/7/365. Staff can connect you to state-funded treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based services. No insurance or income requirement. All calls are confidential and callers are not required to give their names.

1-800-662-4357 · 24/7/365 · Visit Website

3. Veterans Crisis Line — Free

Dial 988 then press 1 for free, confidential support for veterans, service members, and families 24/7. Text 838255 or chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net. No VA enrollment required — open to all who have served in any branch. Counselors are trained in military-specific issues including combat stress, PTSD, MST, and transition challenges. Texas has multiple VA medical centers and Vet Centers that provide follow-up in-person care after a crisis call.

988 (press 1) · 24/7/365 · Visit Website

4. Texas HHS — Mental Health Services — Free

Texas HHS oversees a statewide network of Local Mental Health Authorities (LMHAs) providing publicly funded mental health services in every county. Use their locator or call 211 to find your nearest LMHA. Services include outpatient therapy, psychiatric care, crisis intervention, and case management. Sliding fee scale — many services are free or low-cost for uninsured residents. No one is turned away due to inability to pay for emergency mental health services.

211 · Varies by local authority; 211 available 24/7 · Visit Website

5. 2-1-1 Texas — Mental Health Referrals — Free

Dial 2-1-1 (or 877-541-7905) for a certified specialist who can connect you with local mental health services anywhere in Texas. Free, confidential, 24/7 in English and Spanish. Specialists can find therapists, psychiatric providers, crisis centers, support groups, and sliding-scale clinics near you. No income requirement to call. Available statewide across all 254 Texas counties. Also accessible at 211texas.org for an online directory of services.

211 · 24/7 · Visit Website

6. NAMI Texas — Free

Statewide affiliate of NAMI offering advocacy, education, and support programs. Free peer support groups, family education courses, and statewide helpline. NAMI HelpLine: 800-950-6264. Programs include NAMI Family-to-Family (for family members), NAMI Peer-to-Peer (for individuals with mental illness), and free Connection Recovery Support Groups. Texas has local NAMI affiliates in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, and dozens of other communities.

(512) 693-2000 · Austin State Hospital Campus, Bldg. 781, Room 428, Austin, TX 78703 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

7. NAMI Greater Houston — Free

Serves Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties with free mental health education, peer support groups, and advocacy. S.E.A. Center open Monday through Friday. Programs include NAMI Family-to-Family, NAMI Peer-to-Peer, Connection Recovery Support Groups, and crisis referrals. Call the NAMI Greater Houston office for meeting schedules and program registration. Services are free and open to all residents regardless of income or insurance status in the greater Houston area.

(713) 970-4419 · 9401 Southwest Fwy, Suite 1234, Houston, TX 77074 · Mon-Fri 10am-5pm · Visit Website

8. NAMI North Texas (Dallas) — Free

Serves Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Rockwall counties with free peer education, family support groups, and crisis referrals. Regional crisis line: 866-260-8000. Programs include NAMI Family-to-Family, Peer-to-Peer, Connection Recovery Support Groups, and Ending the Silence school presentations. No cost to participants. Contact NAMI North Texas to find a support group near you in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and surrounding North Texas counties.

(214) 341-7133 · 2812 Swiss Ave, Dallas, TX 75204 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

9. NAMI Greater San Antonio — Free

Free mental health education, peer support, and advocacy in San Antonio. Operates NAMI Bexar Warm Line (210-939-9999) for non-crisis emotional support — call when you need someone to talk to. Programs include Family-to-Family, Peer-to-Peer, and NAMI Connection recovery groups. Services available in English and Spanish. All programs are free. Contact NAMI Greater San Antonio for meeting times, locations, and registration for Bexar County residents.

(210) 734-3349 · 6800 Park Ten Blvd, Suite 236E, San Antonio, TX 78213 · Contact for hours · Visit Website

10. NAMI Central Texas (Austin) — Free

Serves Travis County with free support groups, NAMI Connection Recovery Support, Family-to-Family, and Peer-to-Peer courses. All programs are free of charge and open to Austin-area residents regardless of income or insurance. Family-to-Family is an 8-week course for family members of adults with mental illness. Peer-to-Peer is for individuals managing mental health conditions. Contact NAMI Central Texas for meeting schedules and upcoming course registration in Austin.

(512) 420-9810 · 4110 Guadalupe St, Bldg. 781, 4th Floor, Room 419, Austin, TX 78751 · Mon-Thu 9:30am-4:30pm; Fri 9:30am-1:30pm · Visit Website

11. The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD (Houston) — Paid

Local Mental Health Authority for Harris County — one of the largest behavioral health systems in the US with 86+ sites. 24/7 crisis and access line. Sliding fee scale regardless of insurance. Services include outpatient therapy, psychiatric medication management, crisis stabilization, substance use treatment, and IDD services. Call the 24/7 crisis line to get connected. No one is turned away for inability to pay for emergency behavioral health services in Houston.

(713) 970-7000 · 9401 Southwest Freeway, Houston, TX 77074 · 24/7 crisis line; clinic hours vary · Visit Website

12. MHMR of Tarrant County (Fort Worth) — Paid

Local Mental Health Authority for Fort Worth and the DFW area providing mental health, substance use, and IDD services. 24/7 crisis line: 817-335-3022. Services include outpatient counseling, psychiatric care, crisis intervention, case management, and residential treatment. Sliding fee scale — uninsured residents may qualify for reduced or no-cost services. Call the 24/7 crisis line first or visit a walk-in clinic in Tarrant County for immediate assessment and referral.

(817) 569-4300 · 3840 Hulen Street, North Tower, Fort Worth, TX 76107 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm; Crisis 24/7 · Visit Website

13. Integral Care — Austin/Travis County — Paid

Local Mental Health Authority for Travis County offering affordable mental health, substance use, and developmental disability services. 24/7 crisis hotline available — call to access emergency services or schedule an intake appointment. No one is turned away for inability to pay. Outpatient therapy, psychiatric medication management, and residential programs available. Sliding fee scale for uninsured residents. Multiple Austin-area clinic locations throughout Travis County.

(512) 472-4357 · 1631 E 2nd St, Austin, TX 78702 · 24/7 crisis line; clinic hours vary · Visit Website

14. Texas Men's Therapy (Austin) — Paid

Counseling practice specializing exclusively in men's mental health — anxiety, depression, trauma, anger, and relationship challenges. In-person sessions in Austin and telehealth available statewide across Texas. Therapists understand issues specific to fathers including divorce stress, custody battles, isolation, and identity shifts. Call or visit their website to schedule a consultation. Sliding-scale fees and insurance options may be available — contact for details.

(512) 481-2578 · 13809 Research Blvd., Suite 500, Austin, TX 78750 · By appointment · Visit Website

15. Psychology Today — Texas Men's Therapist Directory — Paid

Search for licensed therapists specializing in men's issues across Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, and all Texas metros. Filter by insurance, fee, specialty, and telehealth availability. Directory includes thousands of licensed therapists. Use filters to find specialists in anger management, divorce, fatherhood, trauma, and depression. Many Texas therapists offer sliding-scale fees. Visit psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/texas to begin your search today.

Directory searchable 24/7 · Visit Website

16. Open Path Collective — Texas Affordable Therapy — Paid

Nonprofit network of therapists offering sessions at

0-$80 for individuals without adequate insurance. Over 300 Texas-based therapists including men's issues specialists covering anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship challenges. Join at openpathcollective.org for a one-time $65 membership fee, then book sessions at reduced rates. Therapists located in Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and other major Texas cities. Telehealth options also available.

Book online 24/7 · Visit Website

17. Tropical Texas Behavioral Health (Rio Grande Valley) — Paid

Local Mental Health Authority for Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy counties providing outpatient counseling, psychiatric services, and a 24/7 crisis hotline for the Rio Grande Valley. Bilingual English and Spanish services available. Sliding fee scale for uninsured residents. No one turned away for inability to pay for crisis services. Serves the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission area and surrounding South Texas border communities with comprehensive behavioral health programs.

(956) 383-8491 · 1901 S 24th Ave, Edinburg, TX 78539 · Mon-Fri 8-5; Crisis 24/7: (877) 289-7199 · Visit Website

Mental Health — Common Questions

I'm in crisis right now — who do I call?
Dial or text 988 — the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, free and confidential, 24/7 nationwide. Veterans press 1. For non-crisis mental health support, call SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
How do I find a therapist I can afford?
Community Mental Health Centers (every state has them) charge on sliding-scale based on income. Medicaid covers therapy in all states. Private insurance must cover mental health at parity with medical care. Psychology Today's therapist finder lets you filter by insurance. Open Path Collective offers 0–$80 sessions.
Can therapy hurt my custody case?
Almost always no — judges view voluntarily-sought mental health treatment as responsible parenting. Therapists must keep sessions confidential (with narrow exceptions: child abuse disclosure, imminent self-harm). Court-ordered evaluations are different from voluntary therapy.
Is there support specifically for men?
Yes. Face It Foundation, HeadsUpGuys, Men's Sheds, and Man Therapy run men-focused programs. Many community mental health centers run men-only groups. Fatherhood programs often include peer support as part of their model.