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Office of Mental Health

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PRESS RELEASE

Governor Hochul Launches Expansion of School-Based Mental Health Clinics to Combat Youth Mental Health Crisis

February 27, 2024

Governor Hochul announced steps to combat the youth mental health crisis, following a convening of students, faculty and mental health professionals at Mohonasen Central School District. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 1 in 4 teens have considered suicide, a significant increase from a decade ago, and for teenage girls, that number rises to 1 in 3. In response to this crisis, the Governor’s actions announced today will expand mental health support for children across the state, protect them from harmful social media features, and ensure their voice is heard. 

PRESS RELEASE

B-Roll, Video, Audio, Photos & Rush Transcript: Governor Hochul Launches Expansion of School-Based Mental Health Clinics to Combat Youth Mental Health Crisis

February 27, 2024

Governor Hochul: “We're announcing that the applications can start today. You don't have to wait till the RFPs go out. It's not once a year. It is a rolling application because to me there is an urgent need to get more schools involved in this. We have over $20 million in our budget to fund this, and I want to add more and more across the State of New York.” 

PRESS RELEASE

Governor Hochul Announces $34 Million “Safe Options Support” Initiative Expands to Long Island, Westchester, and Upstate After Successfully Helping 330 Long-Term Homeless New Yorkers Get Off the Streets and Into Stable Housing

February 21, 2024

Governor Hochul announced the statewide expansion of a program that has successfully rehoused hundreds of individuals experiencing chronic homelessness in New York City, including many who struggle with severe mental illness, after successfully helping 330 long-term homeless New Yorkers get into stable housing. Administered by the Office of Mental Health, the Safe Options Support program has expanded to serve the Finger Lakes, Capital Region, Southern Tier, Hudson Valley, Erie County, Westchester County and Long Island to provide support and help find permanent housing for individuals experiencing homelessness on the streets.

PRESS RELEASE

Chancellor King Announces Application Opening for the SUNY/Office of Mental Health Scholarship Program

February 21, 2024

State University of New York Chancellor John B. King, Jr. announced the application opening for the SUNY/Office of Mental Health Scholarship Program. Established in August 2022 by Governor Kathy Hochul with a $4 million federal investment, the program provides scholarships, paid internships, fee waivers for graduate school applicants, and more to support students in mental health degree programs.

PRESS RELEASE

On Valentines Day, Governor Hochul and Dr. Ruth Westheimer Announce Tips to Help New Yorkers Connect and Address Loneliness

February 14, 2024

Governor Hochul highlighted resources available through State government to improve mental health and combat loneliness, as New Yorkers gather to celebrate Valentine's Day. Developed in partnership with Dr. Ruth Westheimer, renowned intimacy therapist and New York's honorary ‘Ambassador to Loneliness’, these resources offer simple measures New Yorkers can take in their lives – from reaching out to friends to volunteering in their community – to help them and their loved ones avoid and address feelings of loneliness, and to prevent social isolation.

PRESS RELEASE

Governor Hochul Expands Access to Mental Health Care to 200,000 SUNY Students

February 14, 2024

Governor Hochul announced State University of New York campuses are investing nearly $10 million in annual State funding to increase their mental health services and support for students, faculty, and staff. This investment will expand services at 28 campuses, support more than 200,000 students, and build on its Statewide Tele-Psychiatry Network (STPN) and new tele-counseling option for community colleges.

PRESS RELEASE

Governor Hochul Announces $30 Million Awarded for Supportive Housing

February 2, 2024

Governor Hochul announced $30 million in supportive housing funding to serve older adults, survivors of domestic and gender-based violence, veterans and chronically homeless families, and individuals with a mental illness or substance use disorder. Administered by the State Office of Mental Health, the eighth round of funding through the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative resulted in 122 awards, which will provide conditional funding for services and operating expenses for up to 4,839 units of supportive housing.

PRESS RELEASE

Governor Hochul Awards $100 Million to 50 School Districts to Support Efforts to Combat Pandemic Learning Loss and Expand Access to Mental Health Care

January 31, 2024

Governor Hochul awarded $100 million for 50 school districts and BOCES to address pandemic learning loss and provide students with mental health support. The funding will expand student access to evidence-based interventions to combat learning loss and also help staff and students identify and respond to mental health concerns. Today’s announcement builds on Governor Hochul’s priority to expand mental health support for students.

PRESS RELEASE

New York State Announces Training Center for Behavioral Health Providers Serving Children and Families

January 11, 2024

OMH announced a new training center dedicated helping behavioral healthcare providers implement evidence-based practices free of charge so they can offer improved services to children and their families. Supported with a $4.3 million investment of state funding, the Center for Workforce Excellence will bring evidence-based behavioral health training and technical assistance to eligible community-based organizations serving youth and families, which will help reduce disparities for people served by smaller providers, such as in rural areas.

PRESS RELEASE

Governor Hochul Announces $50 Million to Expand Inpatient Mental Health Services for Children and Adults

January 11, 2024

Governor Hochul announced the availability of $50 million to help community-based hospitals expand access to mental health treatment for children and adults across New York State. This funding, part of Governor Hochul's $1 billion investment to transform the mental health continuum of care, will allow these facilities to add new inpatient capacity.

PRESS RELEASE

Governor Hochul Announces Initiatives to Help Members of Every Community Grow and Thrive in New York

January 9, 2024

Governor Hochul announced a series of actions to help New Yorkers from every community grow and thrive as part of her 2024 State of the State address. These actions include expanding support for New Yorkers with disabilities through increasing integration, employment and independent living opportunities; making new commitments to support indigenous nations; taking action to strengthen data privacy for abortion providers and strengthening services for LGBTQ+ and TGNCNB New Yorkers; and expanding support for and recognition of New York State's veterans.

PRESS RELEASE

Governor Hochul Unveils New Initiatives to Support Children and Families Across New York

January 9, 2024

Governor Hochul unveiled new initiatives to support children and families across New York as a part of her 2024 State of the State address. The Governor’s proposal will expand access to high quality health care for New York’s children and ensure that no child in need misses out on critical health care services.

PRESS RELEASE

Governor Hochul Takes on Youth Mental Health Crisis with Expanded Efforts to Protect the Mental Health of Kids & Teenagers

January 9, 2024

Governor Hochul announced expanded efforts to protect the mental health of kids and teenagers as part of her 2024 State of the State address. The measures include establishing a school-based mental health clinic in any school that wants one; passing new legislation to protect kids online; convening youth mental health advisory boards; and expanding loan repayment programs for children’s mental health practitioners.

PRESS RELEASE

Governor Hochul Announces Plan to Address Public Safety Challenges Associated with Serious Mental Illness

January 9, 2024

Governor Hochul announced a plan to address the public safety challenges associated with serious mental illness as a part of her 2024 State of the State address. The Governor’s proposal will provide a new, significant expansion of psychiatric beds and services for individuals with acute needs.

PRESS RELEASE

Governor Hochul Announces Initiatives to Transform and Strengthen Health Care Throughout New York State

January 9, 2024

As part of a comprehensive approach to improving the health and well-being of New Yorkers, Governor Hochul announced initiatives to stabilize and transform the health care delivery system, expand access to affordable insurance, enhance primary and preventive health care, and protect New Yorkers against ballooning medical debt.

PRESS RELEASE

New York State Announces Daniel’s Law Task Force Listening Session

January 4, 2024

OMH announced that the Daniel’s Law Task Force will host the next in a series of stakeholder listening sessions aimed at gathering feedback from the public. Registration is now open for the second stakeholder listening session at the at the State University of New York at Stony Brook’s Charles B. Wang Conference Center from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 11, and also streamed live.