The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD

09/24/2026

The Harris Center joins our community in mourning Rep. Garnet Coleman, a steadfast champion for mental health in Texas. We are grateful for his decades of leadership, advocacy, and service.

Former Texas state Rep. Garnet F. Coleman, a longtime Houston lawmaker who represented House District 147 for more than 30 years, has died at 65.

Coleman’s legislative legacy included expanding children’s health care coverage, strengthening mental health services, supporting criminal justice reform and advocating for Houston-area universities. Details about services and arrangements will be announced later.

09/21/2026

We're proud to see our Youth Crisis Outreach Team featured by KPRC2 / Click2Houston. YCOT was created to provide families with another option during a youth mental health crisis by bringing mental health professionals directly into the community. With clinicians, youth peers, and family partners working together, the team helps young people and their families access the support they need, when they need it most.

Read more about the program and its impact on youth and families across Harris County:

When a child or teenager experiences a mental health crisis, a call for help can quickly turn into a police or hospital response. A new program at The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD is working to provide families with another option.

09/18/2026

09/18/2026

We are excited to announce that The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD has earned the designation of Su***de Safe Care Center from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)!

The review evaluated all seven elements of the Zero Su***de Framework through leadership and staff interviews, policy reviews, training records, and clinical documentation. We are now one of only three designated Su***de Safe Care Centers in Texas, reflecting our organization’s commitment to providing safe, evidence-based su***de care.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this accomplishment and to our ongoing mission of improving the lives of those we serve, and especially to our incredible Zero Su***de team who worked tirelessly to achieve this goal for the agency. 💜🩵

09/14/2026

Jennifer Battle, Vice President of Community Access and Engagement at The Harris Center, was recognized by Texas State Representative Ron Reynolds as a 2026 Mental Health Advocate Honoree via The Ashley Jadine Foundation. Congratulations, Jennifer! Your dedication and advocacy help make our community a safer, more inclusive space. 🧡

09/10/2026

Today is World Su***de Prevention Day. 💜

Our Director of Su***de Care Initiatives, Tiffany Bittner, recently joined KPRC 2+ to discuss warning signs of su***de, how to start a conversation with someone you’re concerned about, and the importance of connecting people to support.

Not everyone shows their struggle outwardly. Everyone's baseline is different. It's important to offer a nonjudgmental, safe space where you can have honest conversations - it can save a life.

Help and hope are available. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988.

Watch here: https://ow.ly/WQnj50ZKL35

09/08/2026

On 988 Day, we're reminding our community that help is just three digits away. 💙

In an interview with KPRC2 / Click2Houston, Jennifer Battle, Vice President of Community Access & Engagement at The Harris Center, shared an important message: 988 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year by call, text, or chat for anyone who needs emotional support.

Every month, The Harris Center's crisis counselors answer thousands of 988 calls, helping people navigate everything from thoughts of su***de and mental health crises to loneliness, stress, overwhelm, or simply having a really difficult day. Counselors complete extensive training and work to provide compassionate, judgment-free support to callers and their loved ones.

As Jennifer explained, "crisis is in the eye of the beholder." You don't have to wait until a situation becomes an emergency to reach out. Whether you're concerned about yourself, a friend, or a family member, 988 is here to listen, provide support, and connect people to additional resources when needed.

If you or someone you know could use a little extra support, call or text 988. You are not alone.

Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icP3bL3UUgU

09/04/2026

💜 Septiembre es el Mes Nacional de la Prevención del Suicidio.

Juan Ríos, de The Harris Center, participó recientemente en Univision Houston para hablar sobre las señales de alerta del suicidio, cómo apoyar a una persona en crisis y la importancia de conectar a las personas con ayuda cuando más la necesitan.

Juntos podemos crear conciencia, reducir el estigma y salvar vidas.

Míralo aquí / watch here: https://www.univision.com/local/houston-kxln/contigo/prevencion-del-suicidio-senales-de-alerta-y-como-buscar-ayuda-video

💜 September is National Su***de Prevention Month.
The Harris Center's Juan Ríos recently joined Univision Houston to discuss the warning signs of su***de, how to support someone experiencing a crisis, and the importance of connecting people to help when they need it most.

Together, we can raise awareness, reduce stigma, and save lives.

***dePreventionMonth

09/02/2026

For more than 30 years, The Harris Center and The Furniture Bank have worked together to help individuals and families build stability, dignity, and independence. What started with a shared commitment to supporting people transitioning into housing has grown into a longstanding partnership focused on helping our community thrive.

We are honored to be recognized by The Furniture Bank at their Third Annual Fundraising Gala, Making Empty Houses Homes, on September 9, 2026. Together, we're helping ensure that a new house can truly become a home. 💙🏠

Tickets for The Furniture Bank's Annual Gala can be found here: https://ow.ly/SCR550ZHYHI

09/01/2026

Every year, our su***de prevention and substance use recovery campaign centers around LIVE—an acronym for Listen, Intervene, Validate, Encourage. In previous years, we've rallied around a single message:

LIVE to Prevent
LIVE to Recover
LIVE to Empower

This year, we're doing something different.
Because everyone's story is different. Everyone's reason is different.

We asked Harris Center employees:

What do YOU LIVE for?

Now we share some of their answers with you to spread hope and inspiration in honor of ***dePreventionMonth and .

We want to hear from you: share your own LIVE reason below!