Nonprofit groups in The Woodlands, particularly those pertaining to mental health and economic difficulty, aw a surge in demand for services in 2020, said Ann Snyder, board member of The Woodlands Township board of directors, during a March 24 presentation to the board.
Needs for service ranged from higher demand at the Interfaith of The Woodlands food pantry to increased crisis calls at Montgomery County Women's Center. The Community Assistance Center, which provides resources for basic needs, observed a 250% increase in demand, with 39,347 people seeking services in 2020 as compared to 11,218 in 2019, according to information shared at the meeting.
Snyder said a survey of 58 Montgomery County-based counselors conducted by regional mental health nonprofit Mosaics of Mercy revealed that in 2020, 85% of the counselors saw an increase in their caseloads and 69% saw an increase in suicidal ideation among patients in their practices.
The conditions that saw the largest increases in prevalence were anxiety, depression, family conflict and substance abuse, she said.
