Grayson County Commissioners Court on Tuesday unanimously adopted a proclamation recognizing May 2025 as Mental Health Awareness Month and encouraging residents to learn about local mental health resources.

Amanda Ortez, chair of the Texoma Behavioral Health Leadership Team, thanked the court for support and described efforts to expand a co-responder model that pairs law enforcement with behavioral-health professionals. Ortez said Sherman Police Department's co-responder program has shown successful outcomes and that the leadership team is seeking to expand collaboration with Denison Police Department and the Grayson County Sheriff's Office through a potential $1,000,000 Texas Community Foundation grant opportunity.

Ortez told the court that locally measured behavioral-health indicators exceed state averages: she said 20% of adults reported 14 or more poor mental-health days per month (compared with a statewide 16%); Grayson County's suicide rate is 19 per 100,000 (compared with 14 per 100,000 statewide); and the ratio of mental-health providers in Grayson County is about 1 to 650 compared with a Texas average of 1 to 590 and a national average of 1 to 300.

The commissioners read and adopted a proclamation that notes May is nationally recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month and encourages residents to challenge stigma, seek help if struggling, and support organizations providing services. The court invited members of the leadership team to receive the document at the bench following the reading.

The proclamation was adopted unanimously; no formal vote tally was recorded.