NYC Health Board gasps over uncle’s suicide as mental health plan is presented

Announcing a new plan to expand New York’s mental health services, the city’s health commissioner fought back tears as he recalled how a member of his own family had died by suicide.

Mayor Eric Adams unveiled the ambitious plan Thursday. It will focus on the mental health of children and families, dealing with the overdose crisis, and supporting New Yorkers living with serious mental illness. The plan will include telemedicine and suicide prevention programs for New York City high school students.

“The COVID-19 pandemic — with the stress, isolation and anxiety it has brought to many of us — has brought mental health to the forefront of conversations,” Adams said. “When it comes to health, we can no longer ignore the brain and focus only on the body; we must address the whole person and the whole system.”

The city also wants to reduce overdose deaths by 15 percent over the next two years and give New Yorkers with serious mental illness better access to specialized healthcare and housing options.

“By investing in family and child mental health, tackling the overdose crisis, and supporting New Yorkers with serious mental illness, this plan focuses on what we need most—going upstream to build a healthier city for all residents. New York,” the mayor said. .

The mental health problem is close to Dr. Vasan: he lost his uncle to suicide when he was 10 years old.

“I became a doctor in order to be a healer. And one of the best things we can do to help New Yorkers heal is to focus openly and unequivocally on mental health,” said Dr. Ashwin Vasan during a press conference.

Both Wasan and Adams spoke of the harmful effects of social media on today’s youth, with the health commissioner noting on Thursday that “girls are showing suicidal thoughts at an unprecedented rate.” The new plan includes steps to intervene and ensure access to care within 90 days of a child’s suicide attempt.

To learn more about the plan, click here.

If you or someone you know needs help, contact the Suicide and Crisis Prevention Helpline by calling 988, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline at 1-800-273-8255, or contact the emergency services assistance by texting “Home” to 741741 at any time. .