REMARKS
Package of mental health legislation for youth
0:27:42
ยท
156 sec
Council Member Adams presents a package of legislation aimed at advancing peer-based mental health solutions for the city's youth.
- Introduction 1103-A: Requires NYPD to notify the Mayor's Office of Community Mental Health about violent or traumatic incidents
- Introduction 996-A: Mandates peer-based mental health literacy training for public middle and high school students
- Introduction 989-A: Requires creation of student wellness club toolkits
- Introduction 986-A: Establishes a pilot program to involve mental health professional candidates in student wellness clubs
Adrienne E. Adams
0:27:42
Finally, we'll we will vote on a package of legislation that I first outlined in my 2024 state of the city address to advance peer based mental health solutions for our city's youth.
0:27:52
The council held a series of listening sessions with stakeholders to better understand the struggles of young New Yorkers and possible solutions.
0:27:59
The bills are the result of listening sessions with advocates, service providers, and youth that aim to provide students with tools and resources that support their well-being.
0:28:08
They represent the 4th stop of the council's mental health road map, a comprehensive evolving plan to improve mental health outcomes for New Yorkers.
0:28:16
Introduction 1103 a sponsored by deputy speaker Diana Ayala would require the NYPD within 48 hours of a determination that a violent or traumatic incident has occurred to notify the mayor's office of community mental health of such incident.
0:28:31
A violent or traumatic incident is defined as any incident or series of incidents that can cause severe emotional and mental distress to the public.
0:28:40
Upon receiving notice of a violent or traumatic incident, OCMH would be required to conduct outreach to local community members regarding the availability of mental health resources in the city, such as the 988 suicide and crisis hotline.
0:28:54
Introduction 996 a, sponsored by council member Althea Stevens, would require the commissioner of health health and mental hygiene to offer peer based mental health literacy training to public middle and high school students.
0:29:06
The department of education would have to distribute informational materials concerning the availability of this training to public public middle and high schools each academic year.
0:29:16
Introduction 989 a sponsored by council member Linda Lee would require the department of health and mental hygiene to create student wellness club toolkits to help guide middle and high school students on how to create peer led student wellness clubs.
0:29:30
The bill would also require the Department of Education to post guidance on its website on how to start a student club and make the student wellness club toolkits created by DOHMH available to all middle and high school students.
0:29:43
And introduction 986 a, sponsored by council member Rita Joseph, would require the city to develop a 2 year pilot program to involve mental health professional candidates in student wellness clubs at public middle and high schools.
0:29:57
This these professional candidates, such as individuals studying to become licensed social workers, would facilitate student discussions and workshops on various mental health topics.
0:30:07
Thank you to our staff members, Sarah Suchar, John LaRosa, Sarah Lis, and Smita Dekshmukh.
0:30:13
Thank you for your attention.
0:30:15
Now I would like to turn it back over to our majority leader.