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���������� Note: ���������� joined our Assembly Mental Health Committee Chair Aileen Gunter, a representative of Senate Mental Health Committee Chair Samra Brouk and a number of colleagues this past Wednesday in support of their legislation to establish a 988 mental health crisis response line in NY and our shared efforts to develop and fund a full continuum of crisis services.
Recognizing that these initiatives can greatly increase the need for mental health services and workers, we also pressed for significant funding, both from one time only federal funds and a large annualized allocation in next year’s budget. You can view the news conference at

Mental Health Advocates Announce Support  for 9-8-8 Legislation
Advocates Mark Mental Health Month while Demonstrating Need for Increased Workforce

(Albany, N.Y.) – Today, mental health advocacy groups, , (ACL), (����������), (NAMI-NYS), (MHANYS), and , as they voiced their support for the 9-8-8 legislation currently in committee in both the and . The groups also used the occasion to mark Mental Health Month, and demonstrate the importance of awareness of mental health advocacy programs. Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, and a representative from Senator Samra Brouk’s office were also present.

“As Chair of the Senate Mental Health Committee, I am proud to sponsor Senate Bill S6194,” said Senator Samra Brouk, (D, WF – 55th District). “Our current systems do not work for ����������ers in need, and this bill will transform the way our state responds to mental health emergencies. ����������ers across the state experiencing a mental health or substance abuse crisis need an easy-to-remember number to dial, where they will get compassionate and professional support. With this bill, individuals or their loved ones in need of support can call or text 9-8-8 to be connected with trained mental health counselors. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Legislature to pass S6194 and usher in a much-needed transformation of mental health services in our state.”

“This 9-8-8 bill will make such a tremendous difference in the lives of ����������ers,” said Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, (D, I, WF – 100th District), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Mental Health. “Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people between the ages of 10 and 34 years old. It’s the fourth leading cause of death for individuals between the ages of 35 and 54. We are proposing to build on the federal

9-8-8 law, establishing a permanent funding mechanism. Appropriate investment is vital for our existing mental health system to expand our existing mobile crisis teams.”

“The initiation of a statewide suicide and mental health crisis hotline system will save countless lives on a daily basis, and I commend Senator Brouk and Assemblywoman Gunther for their steadfast efforts in this regard,” said Senator Peter Harckham, (D, WF – 40th District). “One recommendation we received during hearings before the Joint Senate Task Force on Opioids, Addiction & Overdose was that residents be able to access crisis intervention professionals ready to help at a moment’s notice. Certainly, we need to continue to look for new ways to safeguard residents, like making the 9-8-8 hotline a reality.”

“Both in ���������� and across the nation, we have seen far too often the tragic results that occur when those responding to a mental health crisis do not have the expertise to address mental health concerns,” said Sebrina Barrett, executive director, Association for Community Living. “The establishment of the 9-8-8 suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline is an important first step in ensuring that individuals facing a mental health crisis receive the help they need and begin the path to recovery. However, we must do more to ensure that there is an adequate mental health workforce to support the growing demand for care. These are rewarding but difficult jobs, and our workforce deserves to make a living wage. Despite the level of unemployment, few are applying for our jobs. As a result, our community-based mental health housing providers are facing a significant staff shortage, which has led to the temporary closure of some programs at a time when they are needed most.”

“Creating an innovative continuum of crisis services will provide long and critically needed additional mental health support to tens of thousands of additional ����������ers,” said Harvey Rosenthal, CEO of the ���������� Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services. “At the same time, thousands of more ����������ers will need follow up services–services that have been in their own state of crushing crises for many years, lacking sufficient program capacity and unable to attract and retain a talented workforce so programs may operate in a stable fashion.”

“Reforming the criminal justice-mental illness interface and ensuring that a mental health crisis is met with a mental health response is of the utmost importance to NAMI-NYS,” said Wendy Burch, Executive Director, NAMI-NYS. “Appropriately addressing a mental health crisis begins with having a mechanism to inform first responders that the incident they are responding to is not of a criminal nature. ���������� has an opportunity to introduce such a tool by implementing a 9-8-8 number to use for a mental health crisis. A 9-8-8 number will provide a gateway towards recovery and away from the criminal justice and corrections system which is disproportionately represented by people living with a mental illness. NAMI-NYS is tremendously grateful to our Mental Health Chairs Senator Samra Brouk and Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther for taking that first step to ensure that ����������ers in a mental health crisis receive help and not punishment by introducing S.6194, which would implement a 9-8-8 crisis line in ����������.”

“Crisis services in ���������� State are currently a ‘patchwork of services’,” said Glen Liebman, CEO, MHANYS. “The goal of implementation of 9-8-8, crisis stabilization centers, and mobile crisis teams is to create a ‘pathway to services’ for the countless ����������ers in need of crisis care. We thank Senator Brouk and Assemblymember Gunther for their leadership in support of 9-8-8 legislation.”

“Rates of completed suicide have been increasing for many years, and stressors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated the plight of individuals at risk of suicide and other adverse events,” said Ashley Brody, MPA, CPRP, Chief Executive Officer, Search for Change, Inc. “The establishment of a national (and easy-to-remember) suicide prevention and response hotline couldn’t come at a more important time. This hotline, coupled with an expansion of mobile crisis and other community-based services for individuals in crisis, is an essential component of our response to a worsening public health emergency.”