Here’s how we’re creating and implementing resources to improve mental health across the state.

Mental Health Initiative – While Texas Tech Health has access to a high level of specialty in mental health, primary care physicians are the first line of help when it comes to mental illness. Combining the efforts of research, clinical and patient care, the institute is working to collaborate across the university system to utilize professionals across the Texas Tech University System to help bring light to mental health. With everyone working together, we can fill in the gaps in our region and state to help improve patient outcomes.

Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium – TTUHSC is a part of the Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium, which was created to improve health care for children. One of their initiatives is to implement a Child Psychiatry Access Network (CPAN) in Texas. CPAN provides physicians with direct access to psychiatry experts through dedicated hotlines. According to Dr. Wakefield, our Department Chair of Psychiatry, “With CPAN models in other states, 2/3rd of things that used to be referred to psychiatrists were able to be handled in primary care setting.” Altogether, this helps prevent a delay of care for children and provides physicians with resources they need to help with mental health distress.