AUSTIN (KXAN) — Mental health is becoming part of a broader conversation in Austin as three teens are charged in connection with a spate of shootings and robberies over the weekend. One suspect’s mother told KXAN that her 15-year-old son was struggling with substance abuse and suicidal thoughts. He said this not as an excuse, but as context for how mental health affects young people’s decisions.
Mental health took center stage Tuesday in Travis County Commissioners Court as leaders formally launched a new initiative focused on children’s mental health. The plan is called “Connecting the dots for children’s mental health is a five-year strategy that aims to strengthen families, expand services and make it easier for children and carers to access support when they need it.
The plan outlines a region-wide, coordinated approach to addressing youth mental health issues, with priorities including building resilience early in life, improving access to culturally competent care, and expanding services to children with more complex needs. We also aim to remove barriers that families often face, such as cost, lack of health care providers, and difficulty navigating the system, with solutions such as school-based services, telehealth, and mobile care options.
Seek additional support before a crisis occurs
The county marked the launch during Mental Health Awareness Month, emphasizing the need for early intervention and prevention.
“For the first time, Travis County is partnering with the sheriff to link county jail data with medical data,” said County Judge Andy Brown, emphasizing how closely mental health is intertwined with the justice system.
Integral Care served more than 25,000 Travis County residents and responded to more than 100,000 crisis calls in 2025, according to county leaders. This figure highlights the growing demand for services.
Brown added: “These realities remind us why support, compassion and action are so important.”
The relationship between mental health and the justice system
County officials said the risk is high because about 40% of Travis County Jail inmates have severe mental illness.
“People who are in a mental health crisis really need options other than jail,” Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez said. “Your correctional facility should not serve as a hospital.”
The “Connecting the Dots” plan specifically calls for increased collaboration between systems such as health care, schools, and law enforcement to help families get help early and prevent the situation from escalating.
Families say they can’t wait for change
For Karen McMammon, the new focus on youth mental health hits close to home. She said her son, now 40 and living with bipolar disorder, had suffered for years without consistent treatment.
“He has been in and out of Travis County 91 times,” she said. “A big part of that is not taking medication for their mental health.”
Ms McMammon said programs like the one being rolled out now could have made a huge difference when her son was younger.
“I’m so glad they’re trying to do something,” she said. “I think having programs to help and having people who understand can make a huge difference.”
County leaders said the success of this effort depends on continued collaboration with government agencies and community partners with the goal of ensuring all children in Travis County receive the support they need before a crisis occurs.
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