Community Outreach

three students sitting at a table in the SOM classroom

Education, Access and Awareness

Mental Munchies and "You Asked For It"
To serve our community, we host two series of seminars online through Zoom to benefit people in Permian Basin area. Mental Munchies is one series, and "You Asked For It" is another. Twenty-four presentations on various mental health subjects, such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, bipolar disorders, eating disorders, mental health and family, cognitive behavioral therapy, etc., were held in 2024. In addition to the surrounding Permian Basin, our attendees included people from all over Texas as well as Colorado, California, Arizona, and other places. We have been working together with organizations like Midland College, the Laredo Public Health Department, and AAPC, granting them permission to use our presentations for training or instruction.

Mental Health Minute
The psychiatry residents and fellows provide weekly one minute video series with different mental health topics. People can watch it from our Facebook page or YouTube channel.

Children's Mental Health Fair
The psychiatry department continues to have its presence at the children's mental health fair. Recently, it was held at the Bush House in 2024. There were activities for children geared towards helping them understand the key concepts of emotional wellbeing.

Casa De Amigo
The department collaborates with Case De Amigo and organizes sessions with children, adults, and the elderly to create awareness about mental health.

Community Support Group
The department organizes support groups that are free for the community. These groups are for depression, anxiety, anger, grief, parenting, and chronic illness. We offer certificates to those who require it to meet DFPS requirement. For those in need, all of these services are completely free.

Autism Fair
The psychiatry department attend Autism Fair every year in Midland. Our residents and fellows provide mental health knowledge and consultation for people and families.

Professional Training and Mental Health Seminars
The Psychiatry department collaborate with other agencies and provide professional training per their request. In 2024, we presented for Midland Health Department, Laredo Public Health Department, Region 18, AAPC, and TTUHSC Autism Conferences, etc, fostering professional education and advocating for actions that prioritize the well-being of individuals and families affected by mental illness.