NYS offering funding to support veteran, first responder suicide prevention
These grants will be administered through the New York Office of Mental Health's Suicide Prevention Center of New York, the CARES UP initiative and will provide $60,000 over two years to four law enforcement agencies, three fire departments; three EMS services; three emergency communications organizations; two corrections agencies and three organizations serving veterans.
Report: First responders face mental health stigma
These grants will help will suicide prevention efforts for law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical service personnel, correction officers and emergency dispatchers.
In addition, the Office of Mental Health also provided awards of $40,000 over two years to 11 organizations previously funded through CARES UP to sustain their mental health and wellness initiatives. These sustainability awards were made possible after the governor's office successfully increased funding for the program in the FY25 Enacted Budget to $3 million annually.
It is important to recognize the stress and cumulative trauma first responders and veterans experience as they do their jobs and the toll that this can take on their mental health. CARES UP works with their organizations to mitigate this stress, build resilience and support mental wellbeing. By building and expanding this program, Governor Hochul is demonstrating her commitment to the mental wellness of our veterans, first responders and their families.
New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan
The St. Lawrence County Correctional Facility will receive funding from this year's CARES Up grant.
The CARES UP program provides organizations with $30,000 annually to increase suicide prevention efforts and wellness programming in their agencies. First responder agencies work closely with the Suicide Prevention Center to receive training from national subject matter experts on topics such as resiliency, mental health and wellness, suicide prevention and peer support and implement agency-specific actions to address their unique needs.
The initiative also provides these grants to support veterans' organizations through Onward Ops. Organizations that get the award will use the funding to promote social welfare of service members transitioning back to their communities after their tour of duty ends.
According to the announcement from the governor's office, studies have shown the cumulative stress and trauma are common in uniformed personnel professions and have placed these individuals at greater risk of suicide.
Department of Veterans Affairs to fund research into psychedelic therapy for PTSD
The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services partnered with SUNY New Paltz's Institute for Disaster Mental Health to complete a first responder needs assessment survey of more than 6,000 individuals in law enforcement, emergency medical services, fire services, emergency communications and emergency management from every region to help better understand the challenges.
The assessment showed more than half of the participants experience high levels of stress, burnout, anxiety and depression related to their jobs, and that they may not seek help due to their fear of facing stigma. Thoughts of suicide were reported by 16-percent of respondents — a level four times higher than the general population of the state.
Likewise, New York veterans die by suicide at a rate nearly two times higher than civilians — a rate that has remained relatively unchanged since 2012. Veterans under the age of 55 consistently experience the highest rates of suicide in New York.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
16 hours ago
- Newsweek
Kathy Hochul Reacts To Fifth Legionnaires' Death In New York
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Governor Kathy Hochul defended New York City's response to the Legionnaires' outbreak after officials confirmed the official death toll had risen to five on Tuesday. More than 100 people have been sickened by the pneumonia-like illness since the outbreak began in Harlem in late July. Of those, 14 were hospitalized and five died. "I know the city's all over this," Hochul told reporters on Tuesday, when asked about the outbreak. "If I didn't think so, I'd let you know." The bacteria that causes Legionnaires' disease was discovered in 12 cooling towers on 10 buildings, including a city-run hospital and sexual health clinic, health officials said. Remediation efforts have since been completed on all of the cooling towers. This is a breaking new story, updates to follow.
Newsweek
7 days ago
- Newsweek
How Health Insurance Rates Could Rise In New York In 2026
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. New Yorkers could see their health insurance costs increase by up to 13 percent in 2026, according to a report. Why It Matters Health insurance is a major cost for millions of Americans, and increases could add strain to peoples' finances. Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, warned in June that the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," passed by the GOP-led Congress, could further contribute to increased health insurance premiums over the coming years l. What to Know A report from the Community Service Society (CSS), a New York nonprofit, found that insurance companies in New York's Affordable Care Act marketplace are requesting higher rates for 2026 that could cause New Yorkers who get their insurance through that marketplace to pay thousands of dollars more in insurance payments. Emblem Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York is asking for the smallest increase at only one percent, according to the report. That is an average of $170 more per person. But other companies are asking for larger increases, with the Independent Health Benefits Corporation asking for a 38 percent increase, or $3,440 more in premiums per person, according to the report. United Healthcare of New York is asking for a 37 percent increase—equating to a $5,226 increase in premiums. A stock photo shows a doctor speaking to a patient. A stock photo shows a doctor speaking to a patient. pcess609/iStock via Getty Images MVP Health Plan Inc. and Fidelis are both asking for an 8 percent increase, while MetroPlus Health Plan and Anthem are asking for 10 percent. Healthfirst PHSP and Capital District Physicians Health Plan are asking for 14 percent rises, and Oscar Insurance Corporation wants a 17 percent increase, according to the report. Highmark Western and Northeastern New York Inc. is asking for a 24 percent increase, and Excellus Health Plan is asking for a 25 percent increase, according to CSS. Peterson-KFF reported in July that individual market insurers across the country are requesting the largest premium increases in years, with some companies asking for more than 50 percent increases in ACA Marketplace plans. What People Are Saying CSS wrote in the report: "New York's individual market premiums might increase by up to 13 percent in 2026, forcing consumers to pay an extra $1,291 more annually. New York's twelve individual market carriers are requesting increases ranging from one percent by Emblem to a staggering 38 percent by Independent Health. These requests far surpass requests from carriers in other states." Governor Hochul wrote in June: "The GOP's Big Ugly bill would slash health care coverage for millions of New Yorkers and raise monthly costs by hundreds of dollars. If New York's Republican delegation won't stand up for their own constituents, I will. What Happens Next Whether these increase requests will be approved is yet to be seen. The price of health care remains a key issue facing the U.S.
New York Times
13-08-2025
- New York Times
Mentally Ill Detainees Are Trapped in Legal Limbo, Lawsuit Says
Hundreds of mentally ill detainees who were found unfit to stand trial are languishing in New York City's jails because the state has been too slow in moving them through its byzantine treatment system, a public defender organization said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday. Under New York State law, people who are too mentally ill to understand the charges against them and aid in their own defense are supposed to be restored to competency in a hospital operated by the state Office of Mental Health before their legal proceedings can continue. But bed and staffing shortages at the hospitals have led to long delays in people receiving the care, leaving them to linger amid disorder and dangerous conditions on Rikers Island, the suit said. A class action, it was filed by the Legal Aid Society and a New York University law clinic in Federal District Court in Manhattan. More than half the people in city custody are mentally ill, records show, and on any given day about 100 people are held on Rikers Island while awaiting transfer to be restored to competency, the suit said. The average wait time for a bed is about two and a half months, the suit said. Some wait longer: In 2024, 130 people spent more than 100 days on waiting lists for the treatment. In some cases, the long delays have proved fatal. At least five people who have died after being held on Rikers Island since 2021 had been ordered to be restored to competency, the suit said. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
