In a significant move to bolster mental wellness among New York City's youth, Mayor Eric Adams and other city officials celebrated the recent launch of their 16th school-based mental health clinic. As reported by the Office of the Mayor, the event marked a milestone in the Adams administration's pledge to provide better access to mental health services for over 6,000 students within NYC public schools, particularly focused in the South Bronx and Central Brooklyn areas.
During what has been dubbed "Mental Health Week," Mayor Adams expressed the gravity of mental health issues facing New York's younger population. “Every day, we hear from New Yorkers that mental health is a major issue, especially for our city’s youth, which is why our administration continues to gather the resources that our young people need. As we mark ‘Mental Health Week’ and highlight the city’s multi-agency efforts to support New Yorkers,’ we’re celebrating the opening of our 16th school-based mental health clinic, which will bring in-person services to more than 6,000 students at public schools in the South Bronx and Brooklyn,” Mayor Adams stated. These new clinics provide a range of services including individual, family, and group therapy, alongside telehealth services for students, thus bridging a gap in accessible care, as detailed by the official announcement.
Dr. Mitchell Katz, President and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals, emphasised the need for such services to extend beyond hospital walls into the community. “We are proud of opening all 16 satellite clinics, which provide our students with timely access to clinical mental health services, both inside of schools and at outpatient clinics. Our goal is to provide youth with mental health services where they need them the most, and today’s announcement celebrates our progress as we continue to increase access to care,” Dr. Katz said, as noted by the Mayor's office.
Public Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos shared her enthusiasm, telling the Office of the Mayor, “This clinic adds to our growing network of over 200 mental health clinics, primary care services, and partnerships with more than 130 community organizations, all backed by our dedicated team of guidance counselors and social workers. We are committed to fostering an environment where mental health is truly prioritized alongside academic achievement and as a core pillar of student safety and wellbeing.” With a budget of $3.6 million dollars from the city's Mental Health Continuum, these clinics are aimed to reach students who need them most, targeting areas with high rates of school interventions, suspensions, and chronic absenteeism.
The mental health initiative doesn't stop at in-person clinics — last year, the city also introduced "NYC Teenspace," a free tele-mental health service available to teenagers, which saw substantial uptake from underserved neighborhoods. Moreover, the Adams administration took legal action against several major social media platforms, aiming to mitigate their purported negative impact on youth mental health.
