Gulf Bend Center was created under the Texas Mental Health and Mental Retardation Act of 1965, which established a statewide system of locally, governed public community mental health and intellectual & developmental disability centers. In 1970, after considerable research and planning by community and state leaders, the Center opened its doors to the people of Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Refugio, and Victoria counties. In 1974, Lavaca County joined the local service area.
Each year, the Center serves approximately 1,900 adults with mental illness, 550 children and adolescents with an emotional disturbance or mental disorder and 200 people with developmental disabilities. Since its opening 48 years ago, the Center has provided services to over 40,000 people in the Crossroads Region. The mission of the Center is to improve the quality of life in our community for individuals and their families by providing excellent and trusted care for wellness.
The communities served look to the Center as a provider of services for a very special segment of the population, specifically the serious and persistent mentally ill including persons with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression. The Center also addresses the needs of persons with intellectual functioning and developmental disabilities.
24/7 Crisis Hotline 877-723-3422 (1-877-SAFE-GBC )
Individuals seeking help or services should start by calling the 24/7 Crisis Hotline, a uniform telecommunications system that links all of Gulf Bend Center’s services. Hotline clinicians offer support to anyone seeking help, identifying how they can best be served and quickly linking them with the most appropriate resources and ensuring they receive the best care possible.