TEXAS – Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is taking a temporary leave of office, seeking treatment for clinical depression.

In a letter to her constituents, she shared that she is one of the more than 21 million American adults coping with this mental health challenge, having only recently been diagnosed.

Hidalgo shared her illness and in-patient treatment plan in the interest of transparency and to destigmatize the health condition for others.

“Millions of progressives are wishing Judge Hidalgo the best, and applaud her strength in seeking help and making her illness public. As a part of President Biden’s mental health strategy, his administration rolled out the new 988 suicide and crisis chat and call hotline for free and confidential crisis counseling 24/7/365. Because mental healthcare can be lifesaving, Progress Texas encourages all Texans in emotional crisis or distress to reach out,” said Kathleen Thompson, executive director at Progress Texas.