Mental Health Initiative

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The City of Mesquite is developing a large, comprehensive plan to address the mental health concerns in the community. Mental health is and continues to be a major issue in communities across the country. The plan will include training for public safety responders handling calls for service involving a mental health issue and the addition of staff with expertise in mental health. The City plans to continue working with community partners to ensure a multifaceted approach is in place when responding to calls for service that require a mental health professional.  

May Community Health Forum - Teen Mental Health and Suicide Prevention

As a part of its continuing Recovery Mesquite efforts to help the community move forward and onward from the impacts of the pandemic, the City of Mesquite has started a series of Community Health Virtual Meetings. The monthly virtual community forums will be moderated by City Manager Cliff Keheley on various topics presented by expert guest speakers. The May meeting featured Shirley Weddle, a Mental/Brain Health and Suicide Prevention awareness advocate, Kelly Smith with Mesquite ISD and Dr. Cesar Alvarado with the Multicultural Recovery Center in Mesquite. The speakers discussed teen mental health and suicide prevention as a part of National Mental Health Awareness Month.

View the presentation.
Watch the forum below.

Helping Young Adolescents Weather the Storm

UTD's Dr. Jacquelyn Gamino, a cognitive neuroscientists, provided an overview of the teenage brain in a talk with Kimbrough Middle School parents. In the meeting, she guides parents, teachers and caring adults toward improving brain health in our youth. this information will help you assist teens experiencing depression and isolation. Watch the presentation below.

Teen Depression
2021 Mental/ Brain Health/ Family Resources

Dr. Jackie, Lauren Buerck and Shirley Weddle discussed an overview of the meeting with Kimbrough Middle School parents in the Mesquite Minute.

Mental Health Media Guide

The Mental Health Media Guide is developed by a groundbreaking coalition of mental health experts and entertainment industry leaders. Twenty percent of the population is dealing with a mental health condition, but less than 7% of scripted TV and less than 2% of films address mental health issues.

Read tips and tools featured in the Mental Health Media Guide.


This site is not intended to provide medical or mental health advice. If you have concerns about your or someone else's mental health, please contact a medical professional or call the AZAR Foundation at 833-298-9111 to set up a counseling session, free to any Mesquite resident.