Every December, Community Impact Newspaper publishes its annual Healthcare Directory featuring stories on local trends and comprehensive doctor and hospital listings. To go along with this annual publication, one of our front page stories this month discusses one often overlooked area of health care: the effect increased mental health funding will have in Harris County, which has the highest mentally ill population of any county in the state.

As I was doing research for this story, it became apparent that legislators and other officials across the state have begun to recognize mental illness as a major issue in Texas and specifically Harris County. Because of the additional state and federal funding allocated for mental health, providers here will be able to expand services and eliminate waiting lists, which is welcome news for those in need.

The New Year is upon us, and for those of you who have not settled on a New Year's resolution, we have compiled a Fitness Guide full of information on local places that will help you stay fit, from Crossfit to dance studios to yoga.

Until our next issue in late January, keep up-to-date on local education, transportation and development news on our website,Impactnews.com. From all of us here at Community Impact Newspaper, we wish you a merry Christmas and happy new year!

Marie Leonard, editor, [email protected]