HelpNYS Budget Misses the Mark on Preventative, Voluntary Community-Based Mental Health
New York, NY, May 12, 2025–The New York State budget for FY 25-26 has prioritized expanding involuntary hospitalization, a last resort measure, over preventative, voluntary community based mental health programs for individuals and their families.
The state is continuing to criminalize unhoused individuals living with mental illness, as new laws will subject them to forced hospitalization and other coercive measures by law enforcement even if they aren’t a danger to themselves or others.
The state budget also fails to address NAMI-NYC’s key mental health priorities, including:
- Significant improvements to accessing comprehensive affordable mental health care and supportive housing with wraparound supports,
- Decriminalization of mental illness, including mental health courts
- The shortage of behavioral health professionals statewide, including in schools, and inadequate cost-of-living increase for the mental health workforce
We are encouraged by funding for a peer-led, non-police crisis response pilot statewide as well as an independent Behavioral Health Crisis Technical Assistance Center. This is a step forward in centering peers, not police in crisis response, but we must also pass Daniel’s Law. We also support efforts to improve the mental health continuum and discharge planning, including peer bridger programs, to ensure New Yorkers are connected to long-term mental health support and housing.
NAMI-NYC calls on its leaders to continue centering peers and prioritizing preventative, voluntary community-based mental health for individuals and families to end this cycle of hospitalization, incarceration, and homelessness.
To learn more or join us in our advocacy work, visit www.naminyc.org/advocacy.