New York City Mental Health

“NYC Takes Care of Its Own”

Wall Street, Central Park, Broadway— to the first-time visitor, the island of Manhattan may seem synonymous with NYC. Although the city has its roots in Manhattan, the island is just one of five Burroughs that together are New York City. In many respects, New York City is as diverse and as virtual as the Internet.

At first look, each of its five Burroughs, Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan Island seem autonomous. Each makes a singular contribution to the city’s ethnic, cultural, social, and economic structure. However, in matters of health care, the city pulls together under a huge umbrella, united with the slogan, “NYC takes care of its own.”

As one might expect from a city populated by over eight million people, mental health programs in New York City are as widespread and diverse as the city, itself. From earliest times, New York City assumed responsibility for its citizens in need of care maintaining an “almshouse”, a workhouse and several hospitals on Blackwell’s Island. These early facilities served as a refuge for those who were destitute, sick, or otherwise unable to care for themselves.

New York City Hospitals

Bellevue Hospital was established in 1736 and the six-bed facility became America’s oldest public hospital. Today Bellevue boasts over 1,000 beds. From the beginning a leader in psychiatric care, Bellevue’s psychiatric services are now world-renowned and the hospital is home to the nation’s greatest variety of behavioral health programs.

However, Bellevue is only one of the many hospitals and clinics scattered throughout the Burroughs of NYC that provide specialized psychiatric care to the city’s residents.

East New York Diagnostic & Treatment Center is home to the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Clinic.
Elmhurst Hospital Center offers extensive mental health services on an inpatient and outpatient basis as well as through its mobile crisis unit.
Gouverneur offers a range of specialized mental health clinics that take a holistic approach to treatment, prevention and early detection of disorders.
Kings County Hospital Center is presently expanding to provide for 230 inpatient mental health and chemical dependency beds, a new psychiatric emergency center, and a wide range of outpatient and day treatment programs.
Morrisania's Child Developmental Clinic provides diagnostic evaluations and treatment services for children from birth to 18 years of age. The clinic also provides rehabilitation services for adults with serious and persistent mental illness.
Queens Hospital provides both inpatient and outpatient mental health services, as well as community-based programs.
Renaissance Health Care Network (Harlem) specializes in evaluation, diagnosis and treatment for children with mental retardation, cerebral palsy, developmental disabilities and other neurological impairments.
Sea View provides a 38-bed unit for residents with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. It was also the first facility in New York State to open a long-term-care brain injury program.
Woodhull's behavioral health program provides inpatient, outpatient, mobile crisis, mental health and substance abuse services for emotionally troubled children, adolescents and their families.

New York City Mental Health Services

Through its Division of Mental Hygiene (DMH), New York City maintains many programs and mental health services to assist those who need help as well as to protect its citizens from those with severe mental disorders and disturbances. Among the most notable, the DMH:

provides government services in the areas of mental health, mental retardation/developmental disabilities, and chemical dependency in all five boroughs of NYC.
provides early intervention services for children under 3 years old.
is responsible for implementing all policies and procedures for the AOT Program (Assisted Outpatient) within New York City. AOT is a state oriented program for people with mental illness who may pose a danger to either themselves or others within the community.
Project Liberty is the FEMA funded mental health response to September 11. The DMH plays a critical role in ensuring that New York City is prepared for mental health should a disaster occur through Project Liberty because “NYC takes care of its own”.

See Also:

New York Mental Health Clinics