In her State of the State address on Tuesday, New York Gov. Cathy Hochul made expanding school access to mental health a priority.
It’s not the first time Hochul has pushed for expanded mental health clinics in schools, but the expansiveness of her 2024 proposal has been well received by advocates as well as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle with experts coming home to make it easier for physical students and families getting that care is critical to combating the mental health crisis they say New York City schools are experiencing.
“This will help so many people who would normally struggle to access mental health services,” said Michael Shapiro, legislative director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
He said the organization is pushing for New York state to expand school mental health clinics. The governor wants to go one step further by promising to make such a clinic available to any school that wants it.
“Having these school-based clinics that benefit both students and their families in an environment that is much more comfortable than having to go to a traditional mental health clinic is extremely helpful,” Shapiro said.
State Assemblywoman Eileen Guenther chairs the Mental Health Committee. She said that in addition to comfort, providing access to mental health services that don’t require students to travel can be the difference between getting treatment and continuing to struggle.
“To treat people where they are and to have that kind of access in a school system, especially in a rural area like mine, where sometimes parents don’t have cars — it’s just amazing,” she said.
In terms of practicality, Bob Lowery, deputy director of advocacy, research and communications for the New York State Board of School Principals, said schools he’s spoken to are ready and eager to implement the services.
“We hear again and again that improving school mental health services is a priority,” he said. We’ve been doing research since 2011, every year since 2017 improving mental health services has been the number one priority.’
Senate Minority Leader Rob Orth said solving the problem is something Senate Republicans are on board with.
“Our conference has long supported mental health funding, and certainly mental health resources are being put into schools,” he said. “I hope that materializes as part of the budget and I’m looking for that in next week’s budget address.”
However, he added that he was concerned that New York state laws would discourage professionals from participating.
“If they’re in a school district, they can’t see any of those students outside of their practice,” he said.
Shapiro said another concern is making sure expanding access to all types of insurance remains part of the proposal.
“We want to make sure that these services are available to everyone, not just those on medicare,” he said.
Like Orth, Republican Patricia Canzoneri Fitzpatrick, who is the ranking member of the Senate Mental Health Committee, said Spectrum news 1 that while the governor’s speech “failed” to fully address the issues facing the state, her focus on mental health in schools is something she’s been pushing for, and she’s glad to see the governor continue this session.
“Young people are facing an unprecedented mental health crisis. As a senior member of the Mental Health Committee and a mother of four, I know that support is needed as we all adapt to a post-Covid world that has left many children feeling isolated and vulnerable,” she said Spectrum news 1 in a statement. “I proposed an amendment to last year’s budget to put mental health coordinators in every school, so I’m happy the governor understands the dire need for this initiative and is considering funding it in his upcoming budget. Our children are suffering and we need to address the problem with action.”
The governor also proposed expanding peer support programs, expanding ACT crisis support and expanding access to day treatment programs.
