Office of Mental Health Announces Development of Supportive and Affordable Housing on Staten Island

December 29, 2016

The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) today announced the release of a Request for Proposals (RFP) to design and build two mixed-use housing projects on Staten Island. The developments will feature both supportive and affordable housing units, with preferential placements given to veterans and Staten Island residents.

Office of Mental Health Announces New Telepsychiatry Regulations to Expand Access to Psychiatric Services

November 21, 2016

The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) announced the adoption of new regulations which will expand the availability of psychiatric services in communities throughout New York. The new regulations will allow virtual psychiatry appointments between any providers licensed under Article 31 of the Mental Hygiene Law, with specific provisions to ensure quality of care and patient confidentiality. Previous regulations enacted in February 2015 limited the use of telepsychiatry between Article 31 licensed clinics.

Office of Mental Health Announces Grand Opening of Crisis-Respite House for North Country Children

November 3, 2016

The New York State Office of Mental Health today announced the grand opening of the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center Child and Adolescent Crisis Respite House, a new short-stay residential program for children in Ogdensburg, New York. The program provides a safe reprieve for children in crisis, as an alternative to inpatient psychiatric admissions. This program addresses an identified need for alternative and community-based mental health services in the North Country and builds upon the success of other crisis-respite programs developed throughout the state.

New York State Office of Mental Health Announces $4.9 Million Expansion of Program Connecting Children with Behavioral Health Services

October 5, 2016

The New York State Office of Mental Health announced the launch of the Project TEACH Statewide Coordination Center, which will further expand a program that supports the treatment of children with mild-to-moderate mental health problems within pediatric primary care settings.

New York State Office of Mental Health Announces Statewide Suicide Prevention Plan

September 12, 2016

The New York State Office of Mental Health announced the release of an extensive, multifaceted plan for suicide prevention, aimed at reducing New York State’s suicide rate. To guide suicide prevention statewide, 1,700 Too Many: New York State’s Suicide Prevention Plan will empower communities, healthcare professionals, and researchers with the tools they need to decrease the number of deaths by suicide.

Color Me Hopeful

September 07, 2016

For the 2016 Great New York State Fair, the Office of Mental Health contacted some of the individuals who are involved in the art therapy programs at our state facilities and asked to feature their artwork in a coloring book.

The images you see within this coloring book are original artwork created by the people we serve. The color has just been removed so you can use your own imagination to color in between the lines… or outside of them! We’re making the coloring book available online so that everyone can print it out at home and enjoy the healing power of creativity. So color away!

Office of Mental Health Announces Loan Repayment Program to Attract Psychiatrists to New York Psychiatric Centers

August 31, 2016

The New York State Office of Mental Health announced that applications are being accepted for the Doctors Across New York (DANY) Psychiatrist Loan Repayment Program. This incentive offers up to $150,000 in tax-free reimbursement for psychiatrists with active student loan debt who agree to serve at a New York State Office of Mental Health psychiatric center for at least five years.

New York State Announces Action to Ensure Insurers Comply with Mental Health Equity Standards

July 27, 2016

The Department of Financial Services has issued guidance to ensure that insurers do not unfairly discriminate against individuals facing mental health disorders. In a letter, DFS informed health insurers of their responsibility to provide the same level of coverage for mental health and substance use disorders as for medical or surgical care.

Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program Request for Application Announcement

July 20, 2016

On July 20, 2016, the New York State Department of Health and the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York announced the availability of funds under the Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program, established pursuant to Section 2825-d of the Public Health Law.

Office of Mental Health Announces $2 Million Renovation of Madison Street Clinic in Downtown Syracuse

July 12, 2016

The New York State Office of Mental Health announced the grand opening of Hutchings Psychiatric Center’s renovated Madison Street Clinic in downtown Syracuse. The clinic is now the largest adult outpatient clinic in the area and will be adding primary healthcare services to the existing behavioral health services provided by Hutchings Psychiatric Center.

Office of Mental Health Announces Groundbreaking of $1.5 Million Behavioral Health Clinic in Western New York

July 12, 2016

The New York State Office of Mental Health announced the groundbreaking of a new outpatient behavioral health clinic in Gowanda, New York. The facility will offer outpatient services through the Office of Mental Health’s Buffalo Psychiatric Center and Western New York Children’s Psychiatric Center, among other programs.

New York State Announces Re-Opening of Long Island Community Residence Damaged by Superstorm Sandy Flooding

June 13, 2016

The New York State Office of Mental Health announced the reopening of a community residence on Long Island for individuals with behavioral health concerns that was badly damaged by Superstorm Sandy in 2012

New York State Launches Phase One of Unprecedented $10.4 Billion Homelessness Action Plan

June 2, 2016

New York State announced the launch of Phase One of the Homelessness Action Plan, which is part of a multifaceted, focused and comprehensive package of initiatives involving multiple agencies. In his 2016 State of the State address, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo proposed a historic $10.4 billion commitment to combat homelessness statewide over the next five years, which includes $2.6 billion for new supportive housing units and $7.8 billion for continuing commitments in support of existing supportive housing units, shelter beds, and other homeless services.

Statement from OMH Commissioner Ann Sullivan on Election of Dr. Maria Oquendo as American Psychiatric Association President

May 20, 2016

Office of Mental Health Announces $1.4 Million Expansion of Program Linking Pediatric Primary Care Providers with Child Psychiatrists

May 5, 2016

The New York State Office of Mental Health announced the expansion of a program that supports treatment of children with mild-to-moderate mental health problems within pediatric primary care settings. Project TEACH (Training and Education for the Advancement of Children’s Health) links pediatric primary care providers with child psychiatrists to provide immediate consultation services and expands the availability and accessibility of children’s psychiatric services throughout New York State.

OMH Announces Opening of Three Additional Programs Aimed at Helping Youth With Schizophrenia

May 2, 2016

The expansion of a state program that helps young adults with newly emerging psychotic symptoms was announced. Run by the state Office of Mental Health, the OnTrackNY program provides young adults with innovative, team-based psychiatric treatment, employment and educational services, as well as family education and support at locations throughout New York State. Three new locations are now open in Manhattan, Rochester and Albany, and eight additional sites are slated to open across the state by the end of 2016.

May is Mental Health Month- A Message from Commissioner Sullivan

May 3, 2016

The Office of Mental Health is pleased to join with individuals and organizations across New York State, the United States, and the world as we recognize May as Mental Health Month.

Justice Center Self-Assessment Tool for an Abuse Free Environment

March 24, 2016

The New York State Office of Mental Health has partnered with the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs in the development of an optional tool for providers under the jurisdiction of the New York State Protection of People with Special Needs Act. The tool is the Self-Assessment for an Abuse Free Environment. It is a voluntary tool that providers can use to evaluate their programs for risk of quality management vulnerabilities and to provide resources to mitigate identified risk areas.

$6.8 Million to Expand Mental Health Services for Children

March 16, 2016

$6.8 million in available funds to implement the Healthy Steps for Young Children program in 19 sites throughout New York State was announced today. This program, offered by the New York State Office of Mental Health, will fund the integration of a child and family development professional into pediatric and family medicine doctors’ offices, to help identify, monitor and treat emerging behavioral and developmental health concerns in young children.

New York State Announces $2.4 Million in Funding to Support Employment of Individuals with Disabilities

March 8, 2016

$2.4 million has been distributed to 100 organizations that provide employment services to individuals with disabilities via the New York State Employment Services System was announced today. This funding is part of New York State’s Employment First Initiative to increase employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

New York State Office of Mental Health Announces 'Brain Day' Event at Nathan Kline Institute

March 3, 2016

The New York State Office of Mental Health is excited to announce "Brain Day," a free, family-oriented event to highlight brain science and mental health, on Sunday, March 13, 2016, at the Nathan Kline Institute in Orangeburg, New York.

Office of Mental Health Announces Upcoming Suicide Prevention Training Events

March 1, 2016

The New York State Office of Mental Health today announced upcoming suicide prevention training courses occurring throughout New York State. These free or low-cost training sessions are both scheduled and available by request in every county of the state. Various trainings are available for the general public in addition to targeted trainings for teachers, nurses, police officers and teens.

New York Awarded Nearly $1 Million to Support Community Mental Health , Substance Use Disorder Programs

February 23, 2016

The New York State Office of Mental Health and Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services announced today that New York has been awarded a federal planning grant of $982,373 to strengthen its community-based mental health care and substance use disorder programs through the development of new Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) in pilot sites across the state.

Hutchings Psychiatric Center and SUNY Upstate Medical University Awarded $375,000 Grant to Train Onondaga County Residents in Mental Health First Aid

February 23, 2016

The New York State Office of Mental Health’s Hutchings Psychiatric Center and SUNY Upstate Medical University announced that they have been awarded a $375,000 three-year grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to support the training of a diverse group of adults in Mental Health First Aid. This training will help adults detect mental illness occurring in youth in Onondaga County and connect them with needed services.

New York State Announces Opening of $350 Million Bronx Behavioral Health Campus

January 21, 2016

The New York State Office of Mental Health and the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York announced the opening of the new $350 million Bronx Behavioral Health Campus in the Morris Park section of the Bronx, New York City. The new 436,310-square-foot facility features modern amenities for the 156-bed Bronx Psychiatric Center, the 86-bed New York City Children’s Center- Bronx Campus, and an expanded 188-bed residential village providing transitional and supported housing to adults with behavioral health issues.

New York State Announces New Regulations Protecting Transgender New Yorkers from Discrimination Take Effect Today

January 20, 2016

The New York State Division of Human Rights has adopted new regulations that ban discrimination and harassment against transgender people. The regulations are effective today, and affirm that transgender individuals are protected under the state’s Human Rights Law.