District 4 Councilwoman’s Statement on Mental Health Crisis

Published on January 08, 2024

SAN ANTONIO (January 4, 2024) – The following is a statement from Councilwoman Dr. Adriana Rocha Garcia regarding the need to address the mental health crisis in San Antonio: 

“In San Antonio, we know people struggle to find high quality and affordable healthcare that is accessible. For those in need of mental health support, the process to find resources can be both challenging and burdensome. Our city, like other cities in the U.S., is enduring a mental health crisis that needs our immediate attention. When people face traumatic experiences, our response as a community is often reactive. We don’t invest enough in proactive efforts that can help those who need the extra support. 

Long after the camera crews leave a scene of a tragic event and public attention dissipates, we forget about the need to support those directly impacted and the aftermath that unfolds. Whether we as a community are experiencing compassion fatigue after witnessing headline after headline or feel paralyzed by empathy distress, we can’t stand idle any longer. We have an opportunity to answer the calls for help in our community. There is no one solution or easy fix. The work we must do as a community will take time and require us to have uncomfortable discussions about a complex issue like mental health. I am committed to working with those who want to identify improvements and find solutions to the gaps in our healthcare ecosystem. 

In District 4, within the last year, there have been at least two tragic events related to mental health that have left families mourning the loss of their loved ones. We can and must do more so that our community does not have to endure these tragedies .”