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Denton County proclaims May as Mental Health Awareness Month, highlights children's services
Summary
Denton County Commissioners Court adopted a proclamation recognizing May 2025 as Mental Health Awareness Month and designating a day for children's mental health awareness, citing local service gaps and urging residents and agencies to promote access to care.
Denton County Commissioners Court on Tuesday adopted a proclamation recognizing May 2025 as Mental Health Awareness Month and designating a day in May 2025 as Children's Mental Health Awareness Day.
The proclamation, read in open court, notes local needs including that nearly 50,000 school-age children in Denton County need mental health treatment or counseling, and that 29 percent of children have a diagnosed mental health condition. The document also cites local surveys saying 48 percent of parents experienced difficulty addressing needed care in the community and asks citizens, businesses, schools, agencies and health providers to promote mental wellness and access to services.
Emily Russell, program coordinator at Cook Children's Center for Community Health, told the court the Mental Health and Resiliency Action Team (WATCH) works with local organizations and the behavioral health leadership team to spread awareness and resources. "Mental health is essential to health and well-being and is just as important as physical health," Russell said.
Judge Eads (chairing the meeting) and other commissioners emphasized that community support and early outreach matter. During the vote, Judge Eads urged residents to use crisis resources; Pam (representing local partners) supplied the county's hotline information and Judge Eads read the national crisis number: "988 is one number that individuals can call." The court approved the proclamation on a motion by the chair and a second by Commissioner Williams; the motion passed unanimously.
Why it matters: the proclamation frames mental health as a countywide responsibility and documents gaps in children's access to care. The court's action is ceremonial (a proclamation) and does not itself allocate funding, but it directs public recognition and encourages agencies and residents to promote available services.
The commissioners thanked local partners, including Cook Children's Center for Community Health and United Way of Denton County, which are cited in the proclamation for prevention-based approaches to children's mental health.
The court recorded the motion and carried the proclamation without amendment.
