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Deborah Wigington is judge of Comal County Court at Law No. 3 in New Braunfels. The mental health court handles both civil matters, as well as criminal referrals, related to mental health issues. The purpose of the court is to take a non-adversarial approach to helping individuals with mental health issues find resources that can help them. The court has forms to share with other courts interested in offering mental health services. Visit https://www.co.comal.tx.us/CCLaw/Mental_Health_Court.htm to view these documents. The Texas Judicial Summit on Mental Health will take place Nov. 21-22, 2024. The in-person event is full, but you can still register and attend for free by signing up for the livestream at https://web.cvent.com/event/4bb9ad0d-0f6d-4154-837d-5c941190c00c/regPage:3a358dcf-21b7-414c-ad7b-06220cc77043.

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In the next episode of Stop the Stigma, we talk to Paul Jacobs, a recovering alcoholic and drug addict. In Paul’s own words, his addictions cost him virtually everything - his lucrative career, his marriage, and nearly his children. In his heart, he knew he was an addict, but it wasn’t until he was at his lowest point - -23 degrees below zero at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where a doctor told him his ear, nose, and throat system was irreparably damaged as a result of his cocaine use - that Paul accepted help, or surrendered.

What followed was an intense rehab process that finally got Paul sober, and today, more than five years clean, Paul helps other attorneys in crisis at TLAP. It’s important for Paul to be vocal about his addiction and recovery, he says, because it lets other attorneys know they’re not alone, they just need to ask for help. In retrospect, he says, if a lawyer he respected had shared their own story of recovery, Paul himself might not have felt so ashamed of asking for help. He hopes providing his story will make the difference for another attorney who is struggling.

Don't let costs stop you from getting the help you need. The Austin Bar Foundation offers the Justice Mack Kidd Fund to help pay for treatment of mental health disorders, like depression. Visit https://www.austinbar.org/?pg=justice-mack-kidd-fund

Texas Lawyers' Assistance Program offers the Sheeran-Crowley Trust also offers financial help in getting treatment for substance use and mental health issues. Visit https://www.sheerancrowley.org/

The Austin Young Lawyers Association Foundation offers the Personal Crisis Assistance Plan, which offers either $1,500 to help with practice-related financial obligations or helps coordinate with volunteers to oversee an individual's practice while he or she handles the personal crisis. To apply confidentially for financial or practice assistance, please contact Debbie Kelly at 512-472-0279, x105 or by email at debbie@austinbar.org.

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The Christi Center is a free grief counseling center in Austin, Texas. The Center has groups for Loss to Suicide, Loss to Overdose, Pregnancy and Infant Loss, Crime Victims, Teen Group, as well as a general adult group.

Featured in this episode are Ana-Christina Gonzalez, a fundraising consultant for the Christi Center; Executive and Clinical Director Jocelyn Chamra Barrera; Peer Support Coordinator Christi Neville, and Board President Julio Mendoza-Quiroz.

The Christi Center has its annual fundraiser, Heart Connections, on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Norris Conference Center. If you are interested in purchasing tickets, a table, or sponsoring the event, please click here.

If you're interested in learning more about the Christi Center, including joining any of its grief groups, please click here.

The Christi Center offers numerous resources for parents in how to help their children through grief. To access these resources, including the downloadable PDF "Coping with Grief," click here.

The Christi Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. To make a tax-deductible donation, click here.