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For people who experience psychosis, getting care early on helps them better manage symptoms and lead productive lives. But for those living in rural Texas, care is often impossible to find. And without it, those living with psychosis can struggle to stay employed, maintain relationships or simply move through the world .

Now, from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA, will help Texas Health and Human Services bring its Coordinated Specialty Care program for early onset psychosis to 13 more mental health clinics, including in rural areas. 

is executive director of the Texas chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI. He says it can be difficult for those living with psychosis to get access to the right care at the right time because most Texas counties don鈥檛 have psychiatrists readily available. 

鈥淧sychosis is a symptom, not a diagnosis. It essentially means losing touch with reality. 鈥� It can be profoundly disabling, confusing and can cause someone to lose connection with the social fabric of their lives,鈥� Hansch says. 鈥淎nd this is what specialty care aims to interrupt.鈥�

The speciality care teams in urban areas are in homeless shelters and mental health hospitals 鈥� places where people with under- or untreated psychosis often end up, Hansch says. 

Even with this new initiative, though, he says it鈥檚 not enough.

鈥淥ver the last five years, we鈥檝e started to trickle towards ensuring that people can receive that care,鈥� Hansch says. 鈥淏ut still, after this recent appropriation, we鈥檙e still only going to see about 20% of the needed capacity met, so it still is something that needs to continue to be worked on.鈥�

Hansch says the problem is especially pervasive in rural areas where people are dealing with mental health issues and there鈥檚 no one around to help them. He鈥檚 already looking toward the next legislative session, in 2021, to try to change this. 

鈥淗opefully in the next legislative session we can get the Texas Legislature to step up to the plate because there is still a gap here, in everyone who needs this care, being able to access it.鈥�

Support for Texas Standard鈥檚 鈥漇potlight on Health鈥� project is provided by .

Written by Marina Marquez.

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