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Harris County, TX, May 19, 2026, In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo hosted the second annual panel promoting mental health awareness in the workplace. The discussion, called “More Good Days Together,” focused on building a supportive workplace culture and highlighting mental health resources available for Harris county employees.  

In addition to Judge Hidalgo, panelists included:

• Owen Daniels, Super Bowl Champion and retired NFL tight end
• Sarah Acosta, Director of Benefits & Wellness, Harris County Human Resources & Risk Management (HRRM)
• Quianta Moore, MD, JD, Executive Director of The Hackett Center for Mental Health
• Asim Shah, MD, Chief of Psychiatry, Harris Health Ben Taub Hospital 
• Bradley Brummel, PhD, Psychology Professor at the University of Houston 

“We spend so much time at work that our colleagues really become part of our support network. Most of us feel comfortable talking about physical health problems in the workplace, from allergies to knee replacements, but not everyone knows what to say when a colleague comes to you with a mental health struggle. In Harris County, we want a workplace where you show up and you feel comfortable saying, I’m struggling. By talking about mental health with your colleagues, you make it acceptable for your coworkers to go and find the support they need that can really change their lives,” said Judge Hidalgo.

“It’s important to talk. The reason I started so late in my life with therapy, and trying to get help was because I was ashamed of what I was going through. I felt like I should have maybe had it figured out. I was afraid to go talk about my feelings maybe because I didn’t know how to talk about feelings,” said Owen Daniels, Super Bowl Champion and retired NFL tight end, during the press conference.

“You matter. We all matter and mental health and our well being is a core part of our human existence and our ability to take care of our loved ones to take care of ourselves in order to be more productive in school and work. The foundation of our human flourishing and wellbeing is our mental health,” said Quianta Moore, MD, JD, Executive Director of The Hackett Center for Mental Health during the press conference.

The following mental health resources are available to members of the general public:

• If you have insurance: Harris County has a wide range of mental health care settings, such as the Harris County Psychiatric Center and the Menninger Clinic. You can visit the Mental Health America Care Connect website to find a mental health provider near you. Additionally, you can talk with your physician to help you find a mental health provider who is the best fit for your needs.
• If you do not have insurance: You can visit HarrisHealthCares.org to find a mental health provider near you. 
• If you or someone you know is in immediate crisis: Please call the 988 Suicide Crisis & Lifeline. 

Watch the video of the panel discussion here.

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