BUFFALO, N.Y. — Governor Kathy Hochul announced that John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital of Buffalo will receive $2.9 million for suicide prevention services targeting at-risk youth.
This funding is part of Hochul’s $15 million initiative to enhance suicide prevention services, focusing on historically underserved communities, including LGBTQ+ and various racial and ethnic groups.
“While New York’s suicide prevention efforts lead the nation, we have seen alarming trends among youth and young adults since the COVID-19 pandemic began four years ago,” said Gov. Hochul. “These awards will help develop innovative and culturally appropriate programs to meet the mental health needs of young New Yorkers, especially those most affected by these tragic trends.”
Five organizations have been selected for the funding, which will be distributed over five years:
– Contact Community Services Inc., Onondaga County: $2.9 million
– Child Center of New York, New York City: $3.4 million
– John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, Erie County: $2.9 million
– Access: Supports for Living Inc., Orange County: $2.9 million
– Comunilife Inc., Nassau County: $2.9 million
“By focusing prevention efforts on at-risk young New Yorkers, we can connect them with crucial, sometimes life-saving services they might not otherwise find during a mental health crisis,” said New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan. “This funding will help community-based service providers tailor innovative programs to connect with traditionally marginalized groups and address their mental health needs in a culturally competent way.”
The $2.9 million for John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital of Buffalo will expand suicide prevention efforts for patients aged 11 to 21 who are screened for suicide, not just those at the highest risk.
The awards are administered by the Office of Mental Health through the Connecting Youth to Mental Health Supports program. This program aims to develop community-based mental health services, create a sense of safety for at-risk patients, and form partnerships to help people access treatment.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey, there are concerning mental health trends among high school-aged children.
“Nearly a third of teen girls seriously considered attempting suicide in 2021, up from 19 percent a decade earlier; about three in five felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021, twice the rate of teen boys, representing a nearly 60 percent increase since 2011,” noted the CDC and Gov. Hochul’s office.
The survey also indicated that children from marginalized populations are “more likely” to experience mental health issues.
Gov. Hochul’s office and a report by the Pew Charitable Trust noted that suicide rates among Black children aged 10 to 19 have “increased 54 percent since 2018,” surpassing all other racial and ethnic groups.
The report also found that Black children were less likely to receive mental health care compared to other groups, according to the Governor’s Office.