How Pecan Valley Helps Support Mental Health in Hood County

By Shay Cuellar, Hood County News

Published: April 30, 2026

Mental Health Awareness Month encourages open conversations, but the reality of care in Texas reveals deeper challenges.

“Our state ranks among the lowest funded for mental health on a per capita basis. Further, almost all counties in Texas are designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas, including Hood County and the other counties we serve (Johnson, Erath, Palo Pinto, Parker and Somervell),” said Callie Wren, Community Outreach and Engagement Specialist for Pecan Valley Centers.

Local mental health authorities like Pecan Valley Centers help fill that gap. Funded by the state but often relying on grants and donations, they provide care regardless of a person’s ability to pay. Services include counseling, case management, skills training and medication support for both youth and adults facing conditions such as depression, anxiety and substance-use disorders.

Substance-use treatment is also a focus, with outpatient programs emphasizing long-term recovery through counseling, relapse prevention and aftercare. New approaches, like donkey-assisted therapy through a partnership with T.E.X.A.S. Rescue, reflect a broader, more personalized approach to healing.

In times of crisis, Pecan Valley Centers operates a 24/7 hotline and Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (MCOT), offering immediate support and follow-up care. Calls to the national 988 lifeline are also directed to local resources.

The organization also trains community members through its Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) program, equipping people to recognize and respond to mental health crises. More than 200 people have been trained so far this year.

“You can think of MHFA as CPR for your brain, trainees learn how to provide mental health support until professionals can intervene,” Wren said.

Beyond clinical care the center works with community partners to address factors like housing and food insecurity, common drivers of mental health.

To promote awareness for the month, Pecan Valley Centers will hold “Chicken Chow Down for Mental Health” every Thursday in May from 4-9 p.m. at Raising Canes.

A 10,000 square-foot mental health outpatient facility, located at 1200 2nd St., is under construction for the Granbury center.

Those needing help can call a 24/7 Crisis Hotline: 1-800-772-5987; or the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988.