Today is World Mental Health Day. Observed on October 10 each year, this day creates awareness and educates people about the stigma of mental illness, encouraging citizens around the world to support the cause and check in on their own mental health.

This year, the theme for World Mental Health Day is "Mental Health Is a Universal Human Right," which highlights the disparities in access to mental health care and resources that exist globally. Grant Halliburton Foundation works to address these disparities by providing accessible and comprehensive mental health education, resources and support to all individuals.

Through mental health and suicide prevention programs and initiatives, the Foundation works to bridge the gap and ensure that mental health resources are available to all, regardless of age, background, or circumstances. This is why the Foundation launched its Hispanic outreach initiative last year.

This initiative aims to make all of the Foundation’s information, presentations and resources available in Spanish, with information that is culturally relevant and appropriate for people who are Hispanic or who grew up in a Hispanic household. To that end, the Foundation translated all of its marketing and educational materials into Spanish, updated the information in its brochures and mental health presentations to ensure accuracy, and will continue to provide bilingual services to callers on the Here For Texas Mental Health Navigation Line.

In addition, the Foundation created HereForTexas.com/espanol to ensure that mental health information and a provider database are available in Spanish. Already available in English at HereForTexas.com, this free community tool offers easy access for North Texans seeking mental health, substance use and suicide prevention resources.

“I’m proud Grant Halliburton Foundation is choosing to lead by example, and I hope those who look like my family, speak Spanish and share our culture will trust us to guide them to help,” Blanca N. Garcia, LCSW-S, senior director of mental health resources, said. “Our goal is to help the Hispanic community in North Texas find appropriate resources for themselves and their families.”

On this World Mental Health Day, take a moment to check in on your own mental health, reach out to a friend or family member, and engage in conversations about mental health. If you or someone you know needs mental health resources, visit HereForTexas.com for a searchable database of North Texas providers. This free resource is also available in Spanish at HereForTexas.com/espanol.

You can also call the Here For Texas Mental Health Navigation Line, a free helpline offering assistance finding providers and resources matching your needs. Call 972-525-8181 Monday–Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This is not a crisis line. Se habla español.

To learn more about Grant Halliburton Foundation or to get involved, visit GrantHalliburton.org.

By T.J. Griffin
Senior Director of Communications