What Makes Us Different
As the largest public behavioral health authority in the State of Texas, The Harris Center is proud to have over 2,600 team members who are subject matter experts in issues specific to adult, adolescent, and children’s behavioral health, crisis intervention, suicide prevention, intervention and postvention, behavioral health care for justice-involved persons, and resources and services for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
For questions about our services, scheduling appointments, and more, contact
The Harris Center Patient Access Line.
713-970-7000
The Access and Crisis Lines Hub at The Harris Center is often the first point of contact for people experiencing a behavioral health or IDD needs or crises. These programs offer 24-hour support via a Crisis Line, Access Line, Emotional Support Text and serving as an answering hub for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Line. Support for non-crisis needs are also available via chat responder 7 days/week from 7 AM – 11 PM.
The Harris Center Crisis Line answers calls not only for the Harris Center, but also for Brazos Valley MHMR, Burke, Gulf Coast Center, Gulf Bend Center, North Texas Behavioral Health Authority, and Spindletop Center. In total we serve 39 Texas counties, which is roughly a 1/3 of the Texas population. Working in collaboration with Local Mental Health Authorities means real time deployment of Mobile Crisis and Rapid Outreach Teams, as well as coordination with community providers and referrals to appropriate outpatient and crisis care. This well-trained team has also served as support for our fellow Texans by offering dedicated emotional support lines in response to disasters such as COVID and the tragic school shootings in Uvalde and Santa Fe.
The Harris Center partners with 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline to provide coverage for callers originating from 45 Texas counties. The Harris Center is also the Crisis Line for Community Health Choice insurance company’s Texas STAR Medicaid Plan and Marketplace Plans.
On an average day, Crisis Line Counselors and Access Line Specialists connect with over 820 callers, texters and chatters. Annually, that amount to serving approximately 300,000 people in need.
In addition to incoming calls, Access Hub Responders and Counselors make approximately 100,000 outbound calls annually to follow-up, ensure safety, and coordinate care.
The Healthy Minds, Healthy Communities Team is a focused initiative providing tools and trainings to community members in 10 specific Harris County communities so they can better support each other and increase resiliency and emotional wellness using a Community Initiated Care model. This program aims to create a sustainable network led by community members committed to changing attitudes and beliefs on behavioral health.
Each year, The Harris Center’s Community Training Team trains more than 1,500 people in our community about behavioral health and emotional wellness, stress and resiliency, and suicide prevention and intervention using evidence-based training curricula such as Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) and AsK+ about Suicide to Save a Life. These critical trainings are provided in community centers, businesses, faith communities and schools all over the county.
Are you interested in learning more about our training programs? Click here
The Harris Center’s Outreach Team responds to requests from the community for speakers and information at health fairs, workshops, conferences, and other community events around the county.
Are you interested in connecting with our Outreach Team? Click here
