New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced new mental health initiatives for New York City. On November 25, the Mayor and his wife, First Lady Chirlane McCray, appeared on NPR’s Morning Edition to discuss ThriveNYC and how they hope it will transform their city.
De Blasio told host Linda Wertheimer, “We have a fundamental health problem in our city, in our nation, in New York City, as one-in-five New Yorkers are affected by some form of mental illness. And this requires a very comprehensive response, and it begins with making sure people can get access to mental health services.”
An $850 million program, ThriveNYC aims to hire 400 mental health clinicians for high-need communities and provide mental health training to a quarter-million New Yorkers.
The initiative will launch with mental health screenings for postpartum depression. “Despite the great benefit it provides, screening for postpartum depression has not been part of a woman’s routine care,” said McCray in an interview with the Huffington Post last week.
According to the Mayor’s office, the city’s Health and Hospitals, which runs 11 hospitals and Maimonides Medical Center — which together handle a quarter of the city’s births — have pledged to make the depression checks universal for pregnant women and new mothers within two years. It is estimated that one in ten new mothers, meaning 12,000 to 15,000 cases a year in the city, suffers from some sort of post-partum depression. The city’s eventual goal is universal screening.
Homelessness is a big part of this program. “The key is to make sure that people who are suffering – people who have a mental illness – don’t go on the street to begin with – that they are treated.” McCray told Wertheimer.
This is a step in the right direction for New York. I’m sure there will be details to work out as the initiatives unfolds but you have to start somewhere. I think that Mayor de Blasio and his wife are making a great start. Let’s support them.
Get a full copy of the ThriveNYC report (PDF). Understanding New York City’s Mental Health Challenge here. For more details on the initiative visit https://thrivenyc.cityofnewyork.us/.
LINKS
Huffington Post The Important Thing Hospitals Have Pledged To Do For New Moms
NPR NYC Mayor Unveils Ambitious Plan To Combat Mental Health Illnesses
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Information contained in this blog is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical or psychiatric advice for individual conditions or treatment and does not substitute for a medical or psychiatric examination. A psychiatrist must make a determination about any treatment or prescription. Dr. Paul does not assume any responsibility or risk for the use of any information contained within this blog.