Information for Adults

Information for New Yorkers Using or Considering Mental Health Services

Mental health services are available to help individuals recover from the disabling symptoms of a psychiatric illness, and live full and satisfying lives in their communities. The information in this section is offered to help individuals, friends and families make decisions about using mental health and other services available in your community.

What Is Mental Health?
   An Introduction to Mental Health and Mental Health Services in Your Area

• Adult Housing
  The Adult Housing web page presents the Residential Program Indicators (RPI) report. The RPI is a performance measurement reporting tool for adult housing programs in New York State. Descriptions of the types of OMH housing are also presented.
  • Family Care Information
    Family Care is a residential service sponsored by OMH for persons who have been diagnosed with serious mental illness.
• Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)
  ACT is an evidence-based practice that offers treatment, rehabilitation, case management, and support services delivered by a mobile, multi-disciplinary mental health treatment team.
• Assertive Community Treatment Reports - Provides an overview of the ACT program, and up-to-date statistical data on program operations, the demographic and diagnostic characteristics of ACT recipients, and recipient outcomes. Statewide, regional, county and program-level data are available.
• Co-occurring Disorders: OMH, OASAS Jointly Distribute Letter on Training and Technical Assistance (PDF)
  OMH Commissioner Mike Hogan and OASAS Commissioner Karen Carpenter-Palumbo jointly distributed a letter to outpatient mental health clinics and chemical dependency clinics that describes the two major training and technical assistance initiatives underway in New York State to support integrated treatment for individuals with co-occurring disorders. While each utilizes different approaches and media, the Commissioners note that both of these complementary initiatives seek to increase staff and program competency in screening, assessing, and providing integrated treatment in a single setting licensed by OMH or certified by OASAS.
  (November 9, 2009)
• Co-occurring Disorders: OMH, OASAS Jointly Distribute Products to Support Improved Services for Adults with Co-occurring Disorders
  OMH Commissioner Mike Hogan and OASAS Commissioner Karen Carpenter-Palumbo have distributed a packet of information to service providers, to help them better serve individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders. Packets included information about screening, assessment and regulatory reform, and also included copies of a Memorandum of Understanding signed by both Commissioners.
  (August 11, 2008)
• CQC Offers Guidance on Obtaining Records Under Jonathan's Law
  The NYS Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities has issued Access to Mental Hygiene Records in New York State: A Guide for Individuals Receiving Services and Other "Qualified Persons." This document was prepared in response to the requirements of "Jonathan's Law," and offers guidance for individuals receiving services, their families and other persons legally authorized to obtain records.
  (November 30, 2007)
• Cultural Competence
  To assist agencies with eliminating disparities of mental health for people of diverse backgrounds through training and technical support.
• Disaster Mental Health Planning and Response Resources
  The New York State Office of Mental Health is one of 23 executive agencies that comprise the State's Disaster Preparedness Commission. OMH chairs the Human Services Mental Health Task Force and also provides resources from its hospital system during disaster response. In its external role, the agency trains and certifies crisis counselors for deployment in mental health disaster response roles. It also compiles and disseminates disaster mental health public education materials for use by the general public.
  (June 14, 2007)
• Final Report: New York State Office of Mental Health Transformation Transfer Initiative 2009 (PDF)
  This is OMH’s final report for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s 2009 Transformation Transfer Initiative Grant. This grant served as a catalyst for system improvements through the development of peer-operated recovery centers and increased access to evidence based supported employment.
• HIPAA Information for People Using Mental Health Services
  Information on the new federal legislation that sets national standards for the privacy and security of electronically transmitted patient health information.
• Human Trafficking
  Description of New York State's Human Trafficking Law and the Interagency Taskforce, and a listing of services victims are entitled to receive.
• Infusing Recovery-Based Principles into Mental Health Services:
  A White Paper by People who are New York State Consumers, Survivors, Patients, and Ex-Patients
• Kendra's Law
  New York State has enacted legislation that provides for court-ordered assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) for certain people with mental illness who, in view of their treatment history and present circumstances, are unlikely to survive safely in the community without supervision.
• Kendra's Law: A Final Report on the Status of Assisted Outpatient Treatment (2005)
  Evaluations of the impact of Kendra's Law and the resulting Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) program on local mental health systems and on individuals receiving court-ordered services.
• Kendra's Law: Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) Reports
  Up-to-date statistical data on AOT program operations, the demographic and diagnostic characteristics of AOT recipients, and outcomes for AOT recipients. Statewide, regional and county-level data are available.
• Licensed Program Type Definitions
  List of licensed programs and descriptions.
• Licensing
  Pursuant to Article 31 of the NYS Mental Hygiene Law, a provider of services is required to obtain an operating certificate (license) issued by the Office of Mental Health prior to the operation of certain facilities and programs that are subject to the regulatory jurisdiction of the Commissioner of Mental Health. The site includes a feature to locate licensed programs.
• Locate Services
  • Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Teams
    A directory of organizations in counties per region that offer an ACT team for individuals diagnosed with a psychiatric disability.
  • Directory of County Mental Health Directors
    NYS Conference of Local Mental Hygiene Directors web site offers a map to locate County Mental Health Directors.
  • Find a Program
    Find local programs by county.
  • Self-Help Groups and Programs
    A directory of downstate and upstate New York recipient groups and programs.
• Medicare Part D
  A quick reference guide for all stakeholders looking for information on the Medicare prescription drug benefit.
• Personalized Recovery Oriented Services (PROS)
  PROS is a comprehensive recovery oriented program for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness. The goal of the program is to integrate treatment, support, and rehabilitation in a manner that facilitates the individual's recovery.
• Rights of Inpatients in New York State Office of Mental Health Psychiatric Centers
• Rights of Outpatients in New York State Office of Mental Health Psychiatric Centers
• Schools of Social Work Deans' Consortium Project
  The New York State Office of Mental Health – Schools of Social Work Deans' Consortium Project for Evidence-Based Practice in Mental Health is a partnership between the New York State Office of Mental Health (NYSOMH) and participating Schools or Departments of Social Work in New York State to provide education and training to advanced Masters-level social work students in recovery oriented, evidence-based practices for adults with Serious Mental Illness (SMI)/Serious and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI).
• SSI and SSDI Benefits Training
  Myths, Tips, and Tricks for SSI and SSDI benefits.
• Targeted Case Management (TCM) to Health Homes (HHs) Information
  Provides information on the process of OMH Targeted Case Management programs transitioning to Health Home Care Management programs.
• Transition Age Youth Resources
  Offers information and resources for young people transitioning to adulthood.