MHMR is the older name for Texas's community mental health centers, now called Local Mental Health Authorities and overseen by Texas HHSC.
Texas Mental Health Services
Editorial Team
MHMR is the older name for Texas's community mental health centers, now called Local Mental Health Authorities and overseen by Texas HHSC.
MHMR is the older name for Texas's community mental health centers, which the state now calls Local Mental Health Authorities (LMHAs) and Local Behavioral Health Authorities (LBHAs). They're overseen by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and serve specific counties, so the one that covers you depends on where you live.
If you grew up hearing "MHMR" for the county office that handles mental health and crisis care, you're remembering the same kind of organization under a newer name. Many Texans still search the old term, and some local centers still use it in conversation. This guide explains what these authorities do, who they serve, and how to find yours.
We'll also cover when a private option may be the faster route. Texas Mental Health Services is a private provider of Virtual IOP and Virtual Outpatient care for adults across Texas, and we're not an LMHA or affiliated with one. For adults with commercial insurance who need structured support, that distinction can shape how quickly care begins.
*If you're in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911 in an emergency.*
MHMR stands for Mental Health and Mental Retardation, the name Texas once used for its community mental health and intellectual disability centers. That second term is outdated and no longer used in public health care, which is one reason the system dropped the old name. Many Texans still say "MHMR" out of habit, and you'll still see it on older signs, in family conversations, and in search results.
Today, those centers are called Local Mental Health Authorities (LMHAs) and Local Behavioral Health Authorities (LBHAs). The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) oversees them. Each authority is assigned a geographic area, usually one or more counties, and is the public mental health safety net for people who live there. Some LBHAs also coordinate substance use services, which is where the "behavioral health" wording comes from.
A few of the authorities you may recognize by name are Integral Care in Travis County, The Harris Center in Harris County, and Metrocare in Dallas County. Several kept "MHMR" in their names for years, so the old label can still point to a real organization near you. The rename changed the terminology, but the public role stayed the same.
This matters because the name tells you who runs the service. An LMHA is a public authority connected to state oversight. Texas Mental Health Services is different. We're a private, Joint Commission-accredited provider of Virtual Intensive Outpatient and Virtual Outpatient care for adults across Texas, delivered by secure telehealth, with offices in Austin and Rockwall. We aren't an LMHA, and we have no affiliation with HHSC or any local authority.
If you searched "MHMR" and landed here, you were most likely looking for one of two things. Either you want your county's public mental health center, or you want to understand your options before you call. The next sections cover who local authorities serve, what they offer, and how to find yours.
Local Mental Health Authorities serve people who live in their local service area, and Texas HHSC directs them to prioritize adults with serious, persistent mental health conditions. Crisis services are generally open to anyone in that area, whether or not they have insurance. Routine ongoing care is where eligibility rules come in.
For ongoing services, an LMHA first completes an eligibility screening. The authority looks at your diagnosis, how much your symptoms affect daily functioning, and where you live. Texas HHSC sets the priority populations, and the authority applies them locally. If you don't meet the criteria, the LMHA can often point you to other community resources. Because rules and capacity differ by authority, check the details with yours directly. Texas HHSC publishes the state-level program information.
Most LMHAs offer three broad kinds of help:
**Crisis services.** These include crisis hotlines and mobile crisis response for people in acute distress, along with referrals to higher levels of care when needed.
**Adult mental health services.** These typically cover assessment, case management, counseling, and psychiatric care for people who qualify.
**Eligibility screening.** This is the intake step that decides which services you can receive and where you'll be placed.
Many LMHAs also serve children and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, which is part of why the old "MHMR" name referred to both mental health and mental retardation services. The current programs vary by authority.
An LMHA is a public safety-net system, which is different from a private provider. Texas Mental Health Services is a private provider and is not an LMHA. We don't operate under HHSC authority, and we don't run the public crisis system.
If you or someone you love is in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911 in an emergency.
You find your local mental health authority by using the "find your LMHA" lookup on the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) website, which matches your county to the authority that serves it. You can also search your county name plus "local mental health authority" and confirm the result against HHSC's listing.
Each Texas county belongs to one authority's service area, so the right office depends on where you live, not where you work or go to school. Some authorities cover a single large county, and others cover several rural counties together. A few well-known examples are Integral Care in Travis County, The Harris Center in Harris County, and Metrocare in Dallas County. If you live in one of those counties, that organization is your starting point for public-system services.
Once you've found your authority, check three things before you call:
**Intake process.** Ask whether you can start with a phone screening, a walk-in, or an appointment, and what documents you'll need.
**Eligibility.** Ask how the authority decides who qualifies for ongoing services, since priority often goes to people with the highest clinical need.
**Timing.** Ask how long it typically takes to be screened and to begin services, because wait times vary by area and by demand.
Those answers will tell you quickly whether the public system fits your situation. Many people find that an LMHA is the right match, especially when they're uninsured, on Medicaid, or need the crisis and case management services authorities are built to provide.
If you have commercial insurance and want to compare options, a private provider may be worth a look alongside your local authority. Texas Mental Health Services is a private provider, not an LMHA, and we aren't affiliated with HHSC or any local authority. We offer virtual care for adults across Texas, and our team can verify your insurance benefits at no cost so you know what your plan covers before you decide. You can also read how we differ from another similarly named organization in TMHS vs. Treat Mental Health Texas.
If you're in crisis right now, call or text 988, or call 911 in an emergency. Don't wait on an intake line.
A private virtual program is often the faster fit when you're an adult with commercial insurance, you want structured treatment several days a week, and you'd rather start without waiting on a public-system intake. Local authorities exist to serve Texans who may have no other route to care, so their capacity and eligibility rules reflect that priority.
Texas Mental Health Services is a private provider, not a Local Mental Health Authority, and we're not affiliated with Texas HHSC or any LMHA. We deliver care by secure telehealth to adults across Texas, and we work with private and commercial insurance, including Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and UMR, as well as self-pay. You can verify your insurance benefits for free before you decide anything. We don't accept Medicaid or Medicare.
Structure is the second reason to consider a private program. Our Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program meets 3-5 days per week for approximately 3 hours per session, combining group therapy, individual therapy, and psychiatric consultations when clinically appropriate. That's a step up from weekly therapy, and you can read how the Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program works before you call. If you need less intensity, Virtual Outpatient offers 1-2 sessions per week. After a confidential assessment, our clinical team recommends the lowest effective level, and you can move between levels as your needs change.
Waiting is the third factor, though we can't promise a particular timeline. Schedules and start dates are confirmed at intake, so ask about availability when you reach out. Comparing that answer with what your local authority tells you gives you a real basis for choosing.
A private virtual program isn't right for everyone. We don't offer inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, or detox services. If your clinical needs call for that level of care, we'll say so plainly and help you understand next steps. Your local authority may also be the better path if you're uninsured, have Medicaid, or need crisis services in your own community.
If you're deciding between the two, our comparison of TMHS and Treat Mental Health Texas explains how private providers in the state differ from one another.
If you're in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911 in an emergency.
Yes, MHMR is the older name for what Texas now calls Local Mental Health Authorities (LMHAs) and Local Behavioral Health Authorities (LBHAs). Many centers once carried "MHMR" in their names, and some Texans still use the term out of habit. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) oversees these authorities, and you can find yours through the HHSC mental health services directory.
No. Texas Mental Health Services is a private provider and is not an LMHA, and we aren't affiliated with Texas HHSC, DSHS, or any local authority. We offer Virtual IOP and Virtual Outpatient care for adults across Texas through secure telehealth. If you're comparing providers with similar names, our post on how we differ from Treat Mental Health Texas explains the distinctions.
No. A local authority is one route to care, and you can also choose a private provider if your insurance and clinical needs fit. Your LMHA is the point of contact for publicly funded services in your area, while a private program works through commercial insurance or self-pay. You can confirm what your plan covers with our free insurance verification before you decide.
Call or text 988, or call 911 if there is immediate danger. Local authorities run crisis services for their areas, and your LMHA can tell you what's available locally. We don't provide inpatient or emergency care, and if you need a higher level of care than Virtual IOP, we'll tell you clearly and help you understand next steps. Crisis situations may require ER or 911 pathways first.
Often yes, but you should coordinate with both teams so your care stays consistent. Whether a switch or a combined approach makes sense is a clinical decision, and it's made after a confidential assessment. Our Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program runs 3 to 5 days per week for approximately 3 hours per session, and our team will confirm schedules and start dates at intake.
Our payment options are private or commercial insurance, including Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and UMR, along with self-pay. If you rely on public coverage or need publicly funded services, your local authority is the better place to start. Information on this page is educational and doesn't replace advice from a physician or other qualified health provider.
Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Mental health and substance use services
SAMHSA, 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
**Safety note:** If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911 in an emergency.
About the Author
In This Article
Tags
Use five checks to compare Texas telehealth providers: licenses, accreditation, care level, insurance details, and crisis procedures.
Virtual IOP and outpatient care can cut travel time for adults in rural Texas. Check access, fit, privacy, and cost before you enroll.
What research and national guidance say about telehealth intensive outpatient care — and how TMHS structures Virtual IOP in Texas.
Compare individual vs group therapy vs IOP in one decision table.
See what your first virtual group may feel like, how much you may need to share, and which privacy questions to ask before joining.
A DBT-informed virtual IOP can structure BPD care with skills practice and clinical contact from home. Here’s who may fit and what to verify in Texas.
Texas Mental Health Services offers client-centered services. Reach out for a confidential consultation and see exactly how we'd apply these strategies to your facility.