We’re launching a comprehensive mental health plan for New York City.
The six principles below guide our work. We invite you to join the conversation and help us make mental health everyone’s business.
Change the Culture
It’s time for New Yorkers to have an open conversation about mental health.
so that they can better help friends, family members or co-workers to stay healthy.
through a public engagement campaign to change the conversation about mental health in person and online.
Act Early
New Yorkers need more tools to weather challenges and capitalize on opportunities.
We can make that happen by investing in prevention and early intervention.
18% of children aged zero-17 experience two or more adverse events such as divorce, domestic violence, or family financial strain. Exposure to these kinds of life events can make it more likely for children to develop mental illness later in life.
27% of public high school students in NYC report feeling sad or hopeless almost every day for the prior two weeks – a predictor of depressive illness.
In 2013, one in ten NYC public high school students reported being hit, slapped, or physically hurt by someone they were dating or going out with within the last year.
LGBT youth are bullied twice as much and are more than twice as likely to attempt suicide. Some have also been kicked out of their homes, which results in LGBT youth being disproportionately represented among homeless youth.
By expanding mental health services in our schools, we will make sure more children have the support they need to thrive.
Only 10% of CUNY students with mental health symptoms received help from campus counseling or the health center. We will provide select campuses with access to web-based portals and apps to self-manage mental health as well additional on-site support through the expansion of the CUNY Mental Health Ambassadors Program.
Close Treatment Gaps
We can address disparities in care by providing New Yorkers in every neighborhood with care in their own communities.
We will address not only gaps in access and availability, but in effectiveness and impact.
How We’re Closing Those Gaps
Partner with Communities
By embracing the wisdom and strength of local communities, we can collaborate to create effective and culturally competent solutions.
By embracing the wisdom and strength of local communities, we can collaborate to create effective and culturally competent solutions.
Use Better Data
Better data means better treatment, better policies, and better interventions.
Ultimately, it means healthier, happier New Yorkers.
A new Mental Health Innovation Lab will give the city the data and resources it needs to embrace its responsibility to coordinate this effort.
A child health survey will collect reliable citywide data on the health and emotional wellness of children. Many factors affect wellness for children and families, from adverse life events to access to care.
Strengthen Government’s Ability to Lead
Your government has a responsibility to support mental health.
We’re taking that seriously by serving as the clearinghouse to drive change.
NYC Well
The City launched NYC Well, a robust and accessible system that will serve as an easy point of entry to many of the City’s behavioral health services.
The Mental Health Council will connect and empower city agencies to implement the aims of this plan.
Plan
Community
Reshape the Community Services Board that advises the Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene’s mental health work by diversifying those included, to engage stakeholders whose voices have previously gone unheard.
The City will host the first Mayors Conference for Mental Health this year. The Conference will bring cities together to share new ideas and promising mental health initiatives, including our own.