New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced this week the availability of up to $2 million to expand suicide prevention efforts among military veterans and uniformed personnel.
The prevention efforts, facilitated by respective agencies and organizations, will be supported through funding by the CARES UP initiative, which is administered through the New York Office of Mental Health’s Suicide Prevention Center of New York.
“Our service members and first responders encounter a tremendous amount of trauma and stress on the job, and that can take its toll on their mental wellbeing,” Hochul said. “Funding through the CARES UP initiative is helping organizations and agencies across the state to incorporate resilience and mental wellness into their programming, ensuring these individuals can access the help and support they so rightfully deserve and need.”
The CARES UP program provides each agency or organization with $30,000 annually over two years in an effort to strengthen and improve wellness programming.
Hochul was successful in doubling funding for the program in the fiscal year 2025 state budget, increasing it to $2 million annually and allowing the Office of Mental Health to expand eligibility to emergency dispatchers.
The initiative also provides these grants to support veterans’ organizations via Onward Ops, which is a foundation that provides support to active-duty service members as they navigate their way back into civilian life. Organizations that receive the funding use it to promote social welfare of service members transitioning back to their communities after their tour of duty ends.
“CARES UP promotes positive mental wellness and self-care for New Yorkers who risk their own safety to protect our communities,” Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said. “This assistance can be lifesaving for individuals encountering on-the-job stress and trauma as they work to process their experiences. Governor Hochul’s continued support for this program demonstrates her commitment to helping our veterans and first responders and their families.”
The first cohort of CARES UP awards were issued in 2022. Last year, CARES UP launched a second cohort, providing funding to 15 organizations – including three EMS squads, five law enforcement agencies, a fire department and a corrections department, as well as three organizations serving veterans.
New York veterans die by suicide at a rate nearly two times higher than civilians – a rate that has remained relatively unchanged since 2012. Veterans under the age of 55 consistently experience the highest rates of suicide in New York.
“Each day, 22 veterans tragically take their own lives, underscoring the urgent need to address the mental health crisis within the veteran community. As chair of the Veterans, Homeland Security, and Military Affairs Committee in the New York Senate — and as the wife of an Army veteran — I have witnessed firsthand the immense challenges our veterans face when they return home from deployment,” said state Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton. “By reducing the stigma surrounding suicide and expanding support for at-risk veterans and first responders, New York is leading the way.
"The $2 million in funding through the Cares Up initiative will empower agencies and organizations to strengthen suicide prevention efforts and develop wellness programs that make a lasting difference in the lives of those who serve our communities and nation.”