New York Mayor Mamdani and the City Health Department announced the launch of the “NYC Mental Health Connect” platform on October 9th, designed to assist residents in finding mental health and substance abuse-related services. With over 600 service providers included, citizens can search for support tailored to their needs based on service type, availability for appointments, service languages, age groups, and accepted insurance.
According to a 2024 report from the city government, 24% of surveyed New York City teenagers expressed a need or desire for mental health care but did not know where to seek help. Nearly half of adults reported that mental health issues had impacted their daily functioning, yet they had not received the necessary treatment. Over 40% indicated that not knowing who to contact or where to seek help was a barrier to accessing treatment.
The city administration stated that the new platform was launched ahead of “World Mental Health Day” on October 10th and received funding support from the New York State Office of Mental Health. Users only need to complete a short questionnaire to explore different service options, understand the general availability of services, and learn how to contact service providers.
Services covered by the platform include adult, adolescent, and family outpatient care, rehabilitation services, peer support, employment and education assistance, care coordination, as well as social services such as housing, food security, and legal aid. Additionally, the platform lists crisis support and services needed for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Some services can be accessed at home or online.
Mayor Mamdani stated, “Finding an accessible and affordable mental health service provider should be a simple task; however, for many, the difficulty of finding care services may hinder them from seeking the help they need.” The city aims to help New York residents quickly access local or remote services through this platform, reducing unnecessary barriers encountered when seeking essential mental health care.
The city administration reminded individuals experiencing a mental health crisis that they can call 988 for assistance at any time.
Platform website: nyc.gov/MentalHealthConnect (Chinese language option available).