Saturday, Oct. 10, is World Mental Health Day. This year’s theme from the World Federation for Mental Health is “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change.”
Below are the 24-hour crisis lines for each county, the local clinics, and a few free options. Save this page or share it with someone who might need it.
If you need help right now
Call or text 988, any time, free. You can also chat at 988lifeline.org. Veterans, press 1. Spanish is available. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
Other options: text 741741 for the Crisis Text Line. The Veterans Crisis Line also takes texts at 838255. The Family Crisis Center of East Texas answers 24 hours at 1-800-828-7233.
24-hour crisis lines by county
Every Texas county has a local mental health authority with its own 24-hour crisis line. These are the ones that cover our area, per Texas Health and Human Services.
| Counties | Crisis line |
|---|---|
| Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, Tyler, Angelina, Nacogdoches, Houston, Shelby, San Augustine, Sabine, Newton | Burke: 1-800-392-8343 |
| Walker, Montgomery, Liberty | Tri-County Behavioral Healthcare: 1-800-659-6994 |
| Jasper, Hardin | Spindletop Center: 1-800-937-8097 |
| Grimes, Madison, Leon | MHMR Authority of Brazos Valley: 888-522-8262 |
Local clinics
Burke runs outpatient mental health clinics across the region, with services for veterans regardless of benefit status. General intake is (936) 634-5010 or (866) 242-4556. Clinic phone numbers below are from Burke’s own service listing.
- Livingston (serves Polk, Tyler and San Jacinto counties): 1100 Ogletree, (936) 327-5551. A Woodville satellite clinic is open Wednesdays.
- Lufkin: 1522 W. Frank St., (936) 639-2384
- Nacogdoches: 3824 N. University Dr., (936) 558-6200
For substance use, the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council of Deep East Texas offers prevention, outpatient treatment and recovery support from offices in Lufkin and Nacogdoches. Call (936) 634-5753.
Veterans
Burke runs free veteran services regardless of VA benefits or ability to pay. Veteran peer support groups: 936-225-2887. Veteran therapy: 936-208-9057.
Kids and teens
Burke has a Mobile Crisis Outreach team for children at (936) 674-3550, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. After hours, use the 24-hour crisis line for your county above.
Many local schools offer free telehealth counseling through TCHATT, a state-funded program. Baylor College of Medicine partners with Livingston ISD, Huntsville ISD, Hardin ISD and Hardin-Jefferson ISD. UT Tyler covers schools in Nacogdoches and Shelby counties. Ask your child’s school counselor about a referral.
Hospital care
- Oceans Behavioral Hospital of Lufkin is an inpatient psychiatric hospital for teens and adults, with admissions 24/7. Call (936) 632-2276.
- Serenity Pines at Nacogdoches Memorial provides inpatient care for adults 55 and older. Referral line: (936) 221-6647.
Free and low-cost options
- SHSU Jack S. Staggs Counseling Clinic in Huntsville offers free counseling to the community. It does not provide crisis care or medication. Call 936-294-1121. Details here.
- NAMI Deep East Texas runs support groups for people living with mental illness and for their families in Nacogdoches, Angelina and Shelby counties. Find a group.
- SFA Counseling Clinic in Nacogdoches is open to the public, at $5 to $20 per service. Call 936-468-1041.
- SHSU Psychological Services Center in Huntsville offers therapy and ADHD testing to the community on a sliding scale. Call 936-294-1210.
- Community health centers with sliding-fee counseling: Health Center of Southeast Texas in Livingston, (936) 327-4660. East Texas Community Health Services in Lufkin and Nacogdoches, (936) 560-5668. HOPE Community Medicine in Lufkin, 936-248-4673. Lone Star Family Health Center in Huntsville, 936-539-4004.
- Support meetings: find AA meetings at aa.org, NA at na.org and Al-Anon for families at al-anon.org.
- Students: SFA has a 24/7 counseling line at 936-468-7988. Angelina College students can reach Student Affairs at (936) 633-5344.
Neighbors doing the work
The Mental Health Advancement Foundation is a Livingston nonprofit working to increase mental health care and education access in Deep East Texas. It offers therapy grants, provider scholarships, speakers and wellness workshops. People can request services on its website or call 936-247-6423.
Free therapy through MHAF Therapy Grants. MHAF pays for counseling for people who cannot afford care because of low income or limited insurance. Details and application here.
- What you get: up to 8 free sessions with a licensed therapist, with the option of 8 more if the therapist recommends it. Help for anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and more.
- Who qualifies: household income below 200% of the federal poverty level, and no insurance or a high-deductible plan that makes therapy unaffordable. Adults and children are welcome.
- How it works: apply online, submit proof of income and insurance status, and get matched with an MHAF-approved therapist.
- Cost: $0. Questions go to info@mhaftx.org.
MHAF also hosts a Mental Health Walk-a-Thon each May at Pedigo Park in Livingston and a Suicide Prevention Amazing Race each September.
Serenity House Counseling is a counseling practice with offices in Livingston (1629 US 190 E) and Woodville (306 W. Bluff). Its therapists offer individual, marriage, family and play therapy, plus counseling for LGBTQ+ clients, military members and veterans, and addiction. Sessions are in person or virtual for Texas residents. Call 936-259-2119.
Serenity House also hosts groups at its Livingston office: SMART Recovery on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m., and a Life Changes teen group on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Call ahead to confirm times.
Other local counselors in the 936 Insider directory:
- Sustaining Grace Counseling, Livingston: faith-rooted counseling for kids, teens, adults, couples and families. (936) 329-1187.
- Restoration in the Pines Counseling and Wellness, Lufkin: a group practice covering grief, trauma, postpartum, play therapy and ADHD testing. (936) 630-2024.
- Lufkin Counseling, Lufkin: in person and telehealth. (936) 899-5717.
Last month, survivors and families gathered in Lufkin for the sixth annual suicide awareness candlelight vigil at Kiwanis Park.
One small thing to do this week
Check on someone this week. A text or a phone call is enough.
Know a local group, support meeting or free event we missed? Let us know and we will add it.