UH Researchers Map Houston’s Mental Health Deserts for the First Time

https://www.uh.edu/news-events/stories/2025/november/11192025-houston-mental-health-deserts.php

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11/19/2025 11:27:11 AMUH Researchers Map Houston’s Mental Health Deserts for the First TimeUH Researchers Map Houston’s Mental Health Deserts for the First Time Study Reveals Major Gaps in Psychological Services in ‘Distressed’ ZIP CodesFor the first time, UH researchers have mapped Houston’s “mental health deserts,” revealing inequities in access to care across the city. The study, published Oct. 15 in Frontiers of Public Health, highlights the uneven distribution of mental health professionals and calls for targeted interventions and policy solutions. “So many neighborhoods had no mental health professionals in their ZIP codes,” said Chakema Carmack, senior author and associate professor of health. “It does follow patterns of other lack-of-access variables out there, such as food access, physical care access, clinic access and insurance coverage.”Kelly Schafler Two people looking at a map of Houston. They are in silhouette because of the lighting.

Two people looking at a map of Houston. They are in silhouette because of the lighting.

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