Governor Hochul Continues Tackling Youth Mental Health Crisis with Nation-Leading Efforts to Protect and Support Young People

 

Nation-Leading Legislation to Address Harmful Impacts of Social Media and Protect Kids Online Among Governor’s Top Priorities in Remaining Weeks of 2024 Legislative Session

Expanding School-Based Mental Health Clinics to Serve Thousands More Students Statewide

Establishing the Nation’s Largest Program of Youth Assertive Community Treatment Teams to Support Children and Families

Governor Kathy Hochul reinforced her commitment to protecting the mental health of kids and teenagers by making it a top priority to enact nation-leading legislation addressing online safety and the harmful impacts of social media in the final weeks of the 2024 State Legislative Session. The Governor also highlighted significant progress in bringing mental health care and resources directly to more young people in their homes, schools and communities statewide.

“Each generation faces unique challenges – and our kids are facing a mental health crisis that requires us to confront the complexities of the digital age,” Governor Hochul said. “New York will continue leading the nation by combatting addictive social media algorithms, protecting kids online and ensuring they can get the support they need.”

The Governor was joined today by Jarret Hova, Senior Advisor and Policy Counsel to Attorney General James; Melinda Person, President of the New York State United Teachers; Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymember Nily Rozic to declare a strong commitment to advancing two pieces of legislation by the end of the Legislative Session in June. The Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act will restrict the addictive features of social media and the New York Child Data Protection Act will restrict the collection of minors’ personal data by online sites.

Attorney General James has been a key partner with the Governor in leading this effort, as the two stood together in October to introduce both bills alongside the sponsors.

Additionally, a young person spoke today to share her lived experience with these important issues. Mekka Vasquez, a high school student from Schenectady County, spoke in support of enacting the social media legislation as quickly as possible, and talked about the positive impacts of getting help from her district’s school-based mental health clinic satellite.

As part of her $1 billion investment in mental health statewide, Governor Hochul has also significantly expanded access to mental health care and resources for young people and their families. This focus on youth supports and services continued with additional investments secured by the Governor in the FY 2025 Enacted Budget.

Governor Hochul took steps in her Enacted Budget to expand mental health support for children across the state and ensure their voices are heard, making good on an agenda she unveiled in her State of the State address in January. The Governor announced $20 million in start-up funding for school-based mental health clinics and launched a rolling application, which will make it easier for interested schools to establish these satellites than through the state procurement process previously used. The announcement built on the $5.1 million awarded in November to support 137 new school-based clinics, including 82 at high needs schools, and bringing the total number of clinics to more than 1,200 statewide.

Last year, Governor Hochul also conducted a state-wide listening tour with young New Yorkers and hosted the first-ever state Summit on Youth Mental Health. Following the June 2023 summit, the State released a Youth Mental Health Listening Tour Report, which highlighted some of the key themes incorporated in the recommendations provided by more than 200 participants statewide.

Also, Governor Hochul is expanding the Youth ACT (Assertive Community Treatment) program to ensure resources and supports are available for more youth and families. These teams enable young people struggling with mental illness to stay in their homes and school communities, rather than receiving treatment in residential and inpatient settings. The FY 2025 Enacted Budget includes $9.6 million to add 12 new teams statewide.