Okay To Say

Famous Texans stand up for movement aimed at ending mental health stigma

It wasn’t too long ago when a woman with breast cancer didn’t dare admit it in public — too much stigma and embarrassment. Fast-forward 30 years, and we have people “thinking pink” loud and often to raise awareness for the disease and money for research.

Mental health issues are in the same place breast cancer was three decades ago. The “hush hush” attitude toward mental illness makes it hard for people to talk about this disease, whether it’s their own or a loved one’s. Two-thirds of people with a diagnosable mental illness don’t seek help, and that’s a tragedy with effective treatments available.

Now is the time for change. A new grassroots movement called Okay to Say is raising awareness about mental health issues that affect Texans. They’re also shining the spotlight on the challenges and successes people encounter when seeking help. They are making it okay to say, “I need help” or “someone I care about needs help.”

The statewide effort launched in March with President George W. Bush, Emmitt Smith, and Mark Cuban encouraging people to join the movement and add their voice through a statewide social and digital media campaign.

“Nine out of 10 Texans think that it is more difficult to discuss mental health rather than a physical issue,” says Andy Keller, PhD, chief executive officer of the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, one of the creators of the Okay to Say movement. “By starting the conversations, we help those living with mental illness, as well as their families and loved ones, know that they are not alone and that effective treatment exists.”

One of the worst parts of living with mental illness is the lack of hope or knowledge about available help, as well as the bias that leads to social, psychological, and physical costs and tragic personal consequences. Too many people with a treatable mental illness delay or even fail to get care.

No one has to suffer alone. Okay to Say wants to break this cycle.

Texans can show their support to those with mental illness by signing their names — or signing in anonymously — on OkaytoSay.org, and by uploading photos, videos, personal stories, and sharing the campaign with friends and family on social channels.

“The first step in getting people help is to realize that it’s okay to say you live with mental illness or know someone who does,” Keller says. “By talking openly about mental health, we can lead the way in getting people the help they need.”

Watch the video about Okay to Say here, and be sure to sign your name to the growing list of people at OkaytoSay.org.

Mark Cuban is one famous Texan lending support to the Okay to Say grassroots movement. Sign your name at OkayToSay.org.

Mark Cuban

Photo courtesy of Okay to Say

Mark Cuban is one famous Texan lending support to the Okay to Say grassroots movement. Sign your name at OkayToSay.org.

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Outpacing the competition

Dallas suburb flexes as No. 1 fittest city in Texas for 2026

Women walking in Plano

Photo courtesy of City of Plano

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The people of Plano deserve to take a victory lap: The Dallas-Fort Worth suburb has been crowned the fittest city in Texas for 2026.

This year’s American Fitness Index puts Plano at No. 12 among the country’s 100 most populated cities, up from 14th place last year, and at No. 1 in Texas, the same spot as last year. Plano ranks 10th in the personal health category and 30th in the community and environment category.

The index shows 86 percent of Plano residents had exercised in the previous month, 67 percent had met aerobic activity guidelines, and 37 percent had met aerobic and strength activity guidelines. All three of those numbers are above the 100-city averages.

The Elevance Health Foundation and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) produce the annual index, which they say combines measures of personal health behavior, chronic disease outcomes, community infrastructure and environmental factors “to provide a comprehensive picture of how well cities promote fitness and well-being.”

Arlington, Virginia, tops the index, followed by Washington, D.C.; Minneapolis; Seattle; and Denver.

“The cities that consistently rank at the top aren’t succeeding because of one program or one investment,” Stella Volpe, past president of ACSM and chair of the Fitness Index Advisory Board, says in a press release. “They’ve built systems that support healthier living over time. They are the ones creating environments where physical activity can easily become a part of everyday routines.”

In Plano’s case, the highly rated park system contributes to the city’s healthy environment. In May, Plano landed at No. 1 in Texas and 13th in the U.S. in the annual ParkScore Index. Plano’s No. 13 ranking marked an all-time high for the city.

Every year, land conservation nonprofit The Trust for Public Land rates park systems in the 100 biggest American cities on accessibility, equity, acreage, investment, and amenities.

Here’s how other DFW cities in the American Fitness Index:

Frisco ranks 32nd (making its index debut).
Dallas ranks 43rd, up from 46th last year.
Fort Worth ranks 69th, up from 80th last year.
Garland ranks 72nd, up from 75th last year.
Arlington ranks 78th, up from 83rd last year.
Irving ranks 86th, down from 84th last year.

Among other Texas cities appearing in the American Fitness index are:

No. 28 Austin, down from No. 21 last year.
No. 44 Houston, up from No. 49 last year.
No. 80 San Antonio, up from No. 94 last year.

“Where you live increasingly determines how healthy you are,” Volpe says. “The healthiest cities don’t just encourage exercise — they make movement part of daily life through infrastructure, transportation, and community design.”

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