NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced $20 million in start-up funding for school-based mental health clinics in an attempt to combat the youth mental health crisis.
Almost one in four teens have contemplated suicide, a significant increase from a decade ago and this number rises to one in three for teenage girls, according to the CDC.
“Our kids are in crisis, and as the adults in the room it's our responsibility to help,"Hochul said during a press conference at Mohonasen High School in Schenectady. “The mental health crisis is one of the biggest challenges we face, and I'm committed to giving kids, parents and teachers the tools they need to address this issue.”
A rolling application was established to simplify the registration process for schools seeking access to state funding, eliminating the need for the state procurement process which will allow any school interested to set up a school-based mental health clinic.
Licensed OMH clinic providers will be able to submit an application to establish a school-based satellite clinic through the Mental Health Provider Data Exchange, according to the release.
Every new school satellite clinic will automatically be eligible for $25,000 in start-up funding.
“School-based clinics are an important component of our efforts to expand community-based care throughout the state and ensure all New Yorkers have access to critical mental health supports,” New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said. “By streamlining the process applying for start-up funding, we can help more schools establish mental health clinics and provide greater access to care for youth and their families.”
Hochul also announced that the application portal for her Youth Mental Health Advisory Board, created as part of the 2024 State of the State, is now open to kids and teenagers who would like to join.
Hochul also expressed her ongoing support for the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation for Kids Act (SAFE for Kids Act) included in her executive budget which would control how social media is used by kids underlining platforms that can't give addictive feeds to kids without their parents approval.
The law would prevent social media companies from pushing harmful features for young users, but kids can still use the platform and it would stop online sites from collecting, using, sharing, or doing anything with kids' data without their parents' permission.
The law would also allow the attorney general’s office to take action against any company breaking these rules.
Hochul also announced nearly $15 million annually to increase reimbursement rates for mental health services for children in DOH-licensed facilities and private healthcare practices, in addition to $27 million to support these same services for adults.
“I’m really proud to be here to help end the stigma associated with asking for help, these young people know that that exists, but we can break through together,” Hochul said.