In an effort to directly confront the challenges of mental well-being in the Lone Star State, Texas A&M University academics from San Antonio to McAllen are spearheading initiatives aimed at training educators and engaging communities in mental health awareness. Spearheaded by Professor Stephan Lenz, Texas A&M University-San Antonio has launched the South Bexar County Mental Health Awareness Project, as reported by FOX San Antonio.
Lenz, who chairs the University's Department of Counseling, Health and Kinesiology, is set to intensively train 12 instructors in Youth Mental Health First Aid and other related programs. The goal: to comprehensively equip nearly a thousand individuals with the tools necessary to not only recognize but to also effectively address the mental health struggles of K-16 students. "The project is grounded in the idea that you don't have to be a mental health professional to make a mental health difference in the lives of others," Lenz told FOX San Antonio. The endeavors are bolstered by a substantial grant, aiming to significantly increase referrals to culturally appropriate mental health resources annually.
Not far behind, Dr. Krystal Flores-Chavez of Texas A&M’s Higher Education Center at McAllen has involved her students in a hands-on approach to tackling mental health issues in the Rio Grande Valley colonias. With $5,000 from the HECM's High Impact Teaching Grant at their disposal, students have managed to to directly engage with under-resourced communities, as detailed by Today at Texas A&M. Under Flores-Chavez's guidance, they've hosted events ranging from neighborhood clean-ups to Mental Health Awareness Fairs, complete with games and local resource booths.
The efforts spearheaded by these academics represent a growing trend in higher education, where community involvement and service learning become integral to the student experience. Lesly Mata ‘25, one of Flores-Chavez’s students, echoed this sentiment. "It was a very rewarding and valuable experience helping transform the residents' neighborhood," Mata told Today at Texas A&M. Similarly, Adamari De La Cerda '25 reflected on the importance of destigmatizing mental health, noting her team's dedication to providing valuable resources and spreading awareness in their community. "Our goal was to spread awareness about the importance of preserving mental health and destigmatize negative perceptions," De La Cerda said.
