Texas to Women: "Stay Home, We Got This"

Oh Joy, Time to Pretend We Care About Mental Health Again!

Guess what, folks? It's Global Mental Health Awareness Day on Oct. 10! You know what that means: time to act like we give a damn about Texas' pathetic mental health care access issues, which Forbes has so kindly pointed out for us.

Shocker, right? The great state of Texas is basically a mental health desert. You can thank the glaring shortage of mental health providers for that. It's all sunshine and smiles around here. Apparently, throwing a few bucks at the problem isn't enough to solve it. Who would've thought?

But hey, let's give Texas some credit. They're trying to make things easier by opposing new certification requirements. Less red tape, faster certifications, and boom—mental health professionals for everybody! Problem solved! Except not really, because we all know this is just a drop in the bucket.

Now, let's talk about the workplace, the ultimate battlefield for mental health. It's the perfect place where life's pressures and your crappy job collide. And of course, it hits women the hardest. According to this 2024 report from the Texas Conference for Women, a staggering 98% of women think health and well-being at work are "very" or "extremely" important. Big surprise there.

But here's the kicker: while 82% of the 4,385 women surveyed said their bosses offer some kind of well-being program, 60% don't bother using it. Why? Because they're scared of the backlash, think the programs suck, or they're just too damn busy.

Check out these gems:

• "Poor mental health is frequently viewed as a sign of weakness or a defect, so I'd rather not have anything about my mental health linked to something within my company."
• "The mental health resources provided by my employer seem to be ‘because this looks good’ and not ‘because our employees matter."
• "Part of the drain on my mental health has been the constant overwork and having too many responsibilities. I can barely find time some days to eat or take a break, let alone look into the services and resources offered."

Unacceptable? You bet. But who cares, right? Employers need to wake up and realize that mental health programs actually help with retention and productivity. Plus, it's just good for their bottom line. Duh.

So, the Texas Conference for Women, in all their infinite wisdom, is launching a new initiative to "support the mental well-being of women." Yay, free stuff! This three-month program, starting in January 2025, is called "New Year, New You!" because who doesn't love cheesy themes?

But seriously, Texas employers need to step up their game. We're all counting on you to make this state a place where people can actually get the mental health care they need.

So there you have it. As women thrive, so does Texas. Until then, we'll just keep complaining about it. Happy Global Mental Health Awareness Day!

Fields is the president of the board of the Texas Conference for Women , which is dedicated to advancing women in the workplace and beyond. Because clearly, we need someone to do it for us.