One Central New York organization will share in five conditional awards distributed by New York State totaling $15 million over five years to help community-based service providers develop innovative programs that will help reduce suicide risk among youth from historically underserved populations. Administered by the Office of Mental Health, the state funding through the Connecting Youth to Mental Health Supports program will help develop programs and suicide prevention strategies among racial and ethnic minority populations and LGBTQ+ groups, including those in rural areas.
The awards will develop community-based, treatment-adjacent mental health services aimed at building a sense of safety and connectedness at-risk populations and to establish partnerships to help these individuals access treatment when needed. Grant recipients with their total award amount over five years include:
- 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
Contact Community Services will use the funding for its youth suicide prevention program with a focus on Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, and LGBTQ+ youth between the ages 12 and 18 in Onondaga County. This program provides culturally responsive and trauma-informed services to marginalized and at-risk youth to promote safety, connectedness, and good mental health to reduce the risk of suicide and establish age-appropriate pathways for intervention.
State Senator Rachel May said, “Many people in New York are facing mental health challenges, particularly young individuals in marginalized communities. It is essential that we take proactive steps and offer resources to help our youth deal with mental health crises. By doing this, we can give them a better opportunity to live happier and more fulfilling lives. I appreciate Governor Hochul for prioritizing this issue, as it will provide our youth with the necessary tools to navigate through difficult times.”
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