Recovery: Realizing Hopes and Dreams

We must ensure that individuals living with mental illness have the opportunity to fulfill their hopes and dreams. To do so, all the systems and services we design must support the ability for individuals living with mental illness to thrive in their own community and reach their personal goals. We...

Addressing Stigma: The Importance of Cultural Relevance and Early Intervention

The stigma surrounding mental illness can take a huge toll on children, youth, adults, and families with mental health concerns. Addressing stigma not only helps the individual, but the entire community. Eliminating discrimination that is caused by stigma can lead to improved opportunities for...

Supporting Families in the Recovery Process

At the New York State Office of Mental Health, our Office of Advocacy and Peer Support Services (OAPSS) – formerly the Office of Consumer Affairs –supports families to play a vital role in the recovery and resilience process. The office is staffed by individuals with expertise gained through...

Innovative Programs are Transforming New York State’s Behavioral Healthcare System

As we recover from the COVID Pandemic, we must look forward to the future and the critical issues our behavioral health care system will need to address. We know that over 40% of New Yorkers will have a mental health impact from this pandemic and we are seeing over twice the number of our youth...

How the NYS Office of Mental Health is Addressing and Reducing Stigma

Stigma towards individuals living with mental illness still permeates our society today. Stigma remains a major reason individuals and families don’t seek help when they are having emotional problems. The public stigma surrounding mental illness, often perpetuated by sensationalized media...

Peer Professionals and the Important Role They Play in the Recovery Process

When two people have something in common, it creates a bond that allows for meaningful discussions and a trusting relationship. This is the foundation of Peer Support and the reason for its success. Peer professionals share the knowledge, skills, and information they’ve learned from their own...

The Important Role Volunteers Play in OMH’s Mission to Help Vulnerable New Yorkers

Volunteers are extraordinary people who play a critical role in behavioral healthcare. This was never more evident than during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic when the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) reached out to mental health care professionals and asked that they...

New York State Office of Mental Health Enhances Recruitment Efforts to Address Workforce Shortages

As New York State faces another wave of COVID-19, the need for access to mental health care in our communities has never been more urgent. Unfortunately, healthcare delivery systems across the nation are overwhelmed and understaffed. And while this workforce shortage presents many challenges, it...

How the COVID-19 Pandemic Underscores the Need for Trauma-Informed Care

A traumatic experience can have long-lasting effects on a person’s physical, mental and emotional health and well-being for decades afterwards; and the more traumatic events a person experiences, the more likely they’ll have significant medical and emotional problems. For the past 18...

Technology Helps OMH Increase Access and Continuity of Healthcare

As the COVID-19 pandemic spread and intensified last year, the NYS Office of Mental Health and behavioral healthcare workers across the nation faced two great challenges: First, ensuring our patients could access the treatment and services they needed without increasing the risk of exposure; and...