Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the state Office of Mental Health has received two federal grants totaling $13.5 million to expand access to mental and behavioral health services in primary care practices for youth and to implement the ‘Zero Suicide’ model at 13 certified community behavioral health clinics across the state. The awards were announced following the New York State Suicide Prevention Conference in Albany, with the theme, ‘Changing The Conversation on Youth Mental Health: From Crisis to Prevention.’
“Now more than ever, we must acknowledge that mental health is a basic human right and that we must do more to help New Yorkers – especially our young people – before they reach a point of crisis,” Governor Hochul said. “With this federal funding, we redouble our commitment to improving the mental health care system in our state and to ensuring all New Yorkers –especially our youth and those from vulnerable populations – have access to the stigma-free resources they can rely on to maintain positive mental well-being.”
New York State was awarded $10 million over five years to expand the collaborative care model – a holistic team-based approach to treating mental health conditions – at 15 youth-serving primary care practices, with a specific focus on advancing health equity. Funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the initiative will address mental and behavioral health problems among youth with co-occurring serious emotional disturbance and physical health conditions or chronic disease, with the goal of ensuring equitable access to underserved populations.
Along with technical assistance and support, participating primary care practices will also receive training in suicide prevention. Administered by the Office of Mental Health, a significant portion of the funding will be aimed at overcoming workforce shortages and developing a sustainable model.
In addition, the Office of Mental Health also received a five-year, $3.5 million federal grant to expand the Zero Suicide model – a systemic approach toward integrating suicide prevention in the health care system – among 13 Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics. One of 15 awardees nationwide, the state will use the funding to reduce suicide attempts and deaths among individuals 18 or older in the areas served by these clinics, with the anticipation of helping roughly 50,000 individuals over the course of the grant.
Governor Hochul’s mental health care plan will more than triple the number of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics across the state to serve roughly 200,000 New Yorkers. First established in 2022, these clinics provide comprehensive services for those requiring behavioral health support, specifically coordinating care across behavioral, physical health, and social service systems.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control issued its Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which found alarming mental health trends among high school-aged youth between 2011 and 2021 – especially among teen girls. Nearly a third of teen girls seriously considered attempting suicide in 2021, an increase from 19 percent the prior decade; about three in five felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021, which was twice the rate of teen boys and represents a nearly 60 percent increase over the rate recorded in 2011.
The report also found that youth from marginalized populations are more likely to suffer mental health issues: More than half of LGBTQ+ students expressed having poor mental health, with one in five reporting having attempted suicide in the past year. Suicide attempts were also elevated among Black youth when compared to White youth, according to the report.
More than 400 advocates, school staff, and service providers attended the Suicide Prevention Conference in Albany on Tuesday, Oct. 17, to discuss efforts underway to help address the youth mental health crisis in New York and reverse alarming trends throughout the state. The one-day conference highlighted key components in a comprehensive response to this crisis, including changing the way mental health is discussed in schools, communities and in the workplace.
New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “We must do more to support mental well-being of our youth – especially among marginalized populations. Governor Hochul’s landmark plan provides both an evidenced-based blueprint to improve our state’s mental health system and provides the funding to build these services and supports. We applaud this commitment as we collectively work toward reducing the stigma of mental illness and improving our system of care at all levels statewide.”
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer said, “It is critical that we provide more funding to get mental health care to those in crisis to prevent suicide, save lives and provide pathways to healing. That is why I am so proud we fought for and delivered this $13.5 million in federal suicide prevention funding via the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to New York to be used in community mental health clinics across New York. I commend Governor Hochul for her dedication to supporting those facing mental health battles across our state, and I’m proud to deliver this major investment that will bring community support for our most vulnerable residents.”
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “Access to mental health services should be a right, not a privilege. This vital funding will help ensure that our young people facing mental health battles get the life-saving support they need. I am proud to support Governor Hochul’s commitment to suicide prevention, and I will continue fighting so everyone has mental health services and resources.”
Representative Adriano Espaillat said, “New York families are facing a mental health tsunami, and it will take a whole of government approach to offer support and services to ensure families who are in need, have the support and resources they deserve. I commend Governor Hochul on today’s announcement allocating $13.5 million in federal funding to expand these preventative services across the state. No family should have to face this crisis alone and today’s actions reaffirm our support to bolster mental health resources and awareness, and our efforts to leave no New Yorker behind.”
Governor Hochul secured more than $1 billion FY 2024 State Budget to overhaul New York’s continuum of mental health care and address the unmet mental health needs of youth over the next five years. Among the investments included to help youth, Governor Hochul’s mental health plan provides $30 million to expand mental health services for school-aged children throughout the state, including $20 million for school-based mental health services and $10 million to implement wraparound services training; $8.3 million for new and existing school-based health centers; and $10 million to strengthen suicide prevention programs for high-risk youth.