Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Department of Psychiatry

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Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Department of Psychiatry

🔆Working for collaborative mental health care in our community 🔆Educating medical students & residents in the art & science of psychiatric medicine

11/11/2025

Helping others isn’t just good for the world — it’s good for you.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), volunteering can improve life satisfaction and reduce depression symptoms. Other research shows that people who volunteer regularly experience lower stress levels and greater overall well-being.

Why? Volunteering creates connection, purpose and perspective — three ingredients that protect mental health.

Start small: help with a community project, serve a meal or offer your talents or connections to organizations in need. When you give your time, you often gain peace in return.

11/07/2025

November is National Family Caregivers Month — a time to honor the millions who provide daily support to loved ones.

According to the CDC, caregivers are significantly more likely to experience frequent mental distress than non-caregivers. Another national study found that over 25% of caregivers report symptoms of depression.

Caregiving can be beautiful and meaningful, but it’s also emotionally and physically demanding. If you’re caring for someone, remember that you deserve support too. Taking breaks, connecting with others and asking for help aren’t luxuries — they’re lifelines.

11/05/2025

Clinician care and intervention can change the trajectory of someone's mental well-being. According to the CDC, 1 in 5 people experience a mental health concern during or after pregnancy, and early clinician support can reduce complications for both parent and baby. Pediatric clinicians also play a key role: early mental health screening and support can help children build resilience that lasts a lifetime.

Early clinician intervention — routine screening, compassionate conversations and timely referrals — can dramatically improve outcomes for both parent and child.

In Texas, you have access to a free mental health consultation hotline specifically for clinicians. These psychiatry access networks are statewide initiatives funded by the Texas legislature to address the mental health needs of Texas children and adolescents as well as pregnant and postpartum women through the Child Psychiatry Access Network (CPAN) and Perinatal Psychiatry Access Network (PeriPAN). 💙 To learn more about CPAN and PeriPAN, visit >> https://loom.ly/mkVWODs. 💙

11/03/2025

Have you ever struggled to get through the day after a bad night’s sleep and felt… fragile? Turns out, there’s more at stake than yawns and brain fog.

According to the CDC, about one-third of U.S. adults get less sleep than recommended. And the Sleep Foundation reports that people who rate their sleep as “below average” are three times more likely to say their mental health is poor.

Sleep deprivation affects the parts of the brain that regulate mood, making us more vulnerable to stress, irritability and depression.

Winter months are a perfect time to focus on sleep hygiene. This week, try a small experiment: turn off 💻screens 30 minutes before bed, dim the lights 💡 and give your brain 🧠 the reset it deserves. Your mind will thank you in the morning.

10/29/2025

One of our frequently asked questions about our Electroconclusive Therapy treatment is how to know if you qualify. ECT is used for people 16 years and older. ECT is often effective in cases where medications do not provide sufficient relief of symptoms or in cases where the side effects are not tolerable. If you think you may be a good candidate, reach out to your PCP or Primary Psychiatrist for a referral. To find answers to more of our FAQs, visit https://loom.ly/saFDg6U.

10/27/2025

As we age, life changes can impact our mental health. The National Institute of Mental Health shares some of the symptoms of mental disorders to look out for in older adults:

⚫ Noticeable changes in mood, energy level or appetite
⚫ Feeling flat or having trouble feeling positive emotions
⚫ Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
⚫ Difficulty concentrating, feeling restless or on edge
⚫ Increased worry or feeling stressed
⚫ Thoughts or behaviors that interfere with work, family or social life

If you or a loved one is seeking treatment or has questions about our Geriatric Psychiatry services, you can find a doctor here >> https://loom.ly/JiXsNjU

10/24/2025

Should children be allowed to watch horror movies? The phenomenon of being scared is an experience that all humans can relate to and some seek out. However, early exposure might not be the best choice for your family. Hear from Dr. Scanlon, TTUHSC Clinical Psychologist, on why children might not be developmentally ready to process those types of images 👻 https://loom.ly/voC7I9o 🎃

If your children might be struggling with their mental health this time of year, we have valuable resources that can help. To learn more, visit the links below:

CPAN >> https://loom.ly/CP3Kzzk
TCHATT >> https://loom.ly/GlDbiXM

10/22/2025

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, in the U.S. nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner. For one year, this comes out to more than 10 million men and women. Poorvanshi Alag, M.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and an addiction psychiatrist, talks to us about the link between an abusive relationship and addiction, the signs of an abusive relationship and what we can do to help victims of abuse. Listen here 🎧 https://loom.ly/EASSXp8 🎧

10/20/2025

Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (Deep TMS) uses FDA-approved breakthrough technology to offer relief from MDD and OCD, without medication. Deep TMS therapy is a non-invasive treatment for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Performed under a healthcare provider’s supervision, it does not require anesthesia or sedation. If you or a loved one thinks Deep TMS might work for you, you can fill out the Deep TMS Interest Form here >> https://loom.ly/SsPXgAc.

10/17/2025

✨ Feature Friday ✨
Michelle Saenz, M.A., L.P.C., serves the Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT) team as a Mental Health Clinician. She assesses, refers and treats students in our community for mental health services. She also supports other Mental Health Clinicians with utilizing a specific therapeutic modality: Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT).

She says the most rewarding thing about her work with the TCHATT program is helping families improve their child's mental health. "I believe that the more educated the parents are about mental health, the better it is for the whole family. I especially enjoy being able to utilize my Spanish-speaking skills to help the community."

Saenz received her bachelor's and master's degrees from West Texas A&M University. Prior to her work in mental health, she was a bilingual teacher for nine years and a school counselor/administrator for three years.

She is a first-generation Mexican American who loves learning languages. Saenz has been married to her husband for 18 years and together, they have a 12-year-old son, two bonus children and a granddaughter. They also have two dogs 🐕, a snake 🐍 and a flock of chickens 🐔! In her free time, she loves to be with her family, put together puzzles, sew, travel and explore.

10/16/2025

The Perinatal Psychiatry Access Network, PeriPAN, is for clinicians serving pregnant and postpartum women, including:

🔵OB/GYNs
🔵Pediatricians
🔵Family Practice Clinicians
🔵Psychiatrists
🔵Psychologists
🔵Midwives
🔵Other Primary Care Physicians
🔵Nurses and Other Clinicians

PeriPAN can enhance your capacity to provide the perinatal mental health standard of care your patients need. Providers can also explore a variety of helpful resources like the Mental Health OB Toolkit, clinical guidance and education, screening tools and much more >> https://loom.ly/dcZIJK0

Address

3601 4th Street
Lubbock, TX
79413

Telephone

+18067432800

Website

https://www.ttuhsc.edu/medicine/psychiatry/

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