Res 0873-2025

Whereas, On November 18, 2024, a mentally disturbed homeless individual tragically took the lives of three innocent people across Manhattan; and Whereas, The New York City mental healthcare system failed these city residents by allowing this individual, struggling with mental illness, to languish on the streets and public transit system; and Whereas, The individual had two documented instances of mental distress across New York City according to ABC Eyewitness News; and Whereas, The inability of the State and City to take corrective action after witnessing these two mental health episodes had deadly consequences for New Yorkers; and Whereas, In response to this terrible set of events, New York Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigil introduced the HELP Act, Harness Expertise of Licensed Professionals, on November 20, 2024, so that more mental health professionals-such as psychiatric nurse practitioners, psychologists, and clinical social workers-are able to conduct a "clinical evaluation of a person's need for involuntary hospitalization;" and Whereas, According to Dr. Janis Cutler, the Director of the Medical Student Education in Psychiatry at Columbia University, there is a nationwide shortage of psychiatrists, and this trend is only going to continue in the future as the number of psychiatrists cannot keep pace with the growing demand for mental health services; and Whereas, Senator Hoylman-Sigal stated: "...expand the pool [mental health professionals who can conduct evaluations], and we can have greater capacity to treat individuals;" and Whereas, The HELP Act also mandates that hospital administrators alert mental health providers who have previously treated the patient when they are admitted to the hospital, and the bill requires that upon a patient discharge, mental health government officials and community healthcare providers are notified-ensuring better continuity of care and coordination across the state's multilayered healthcare system; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the New York State Senate to pass S254, the HELP Act, to expand the number of mental health professionals who can perform clinical evaluations for involuntary hospitalization and assisted outpatient treatment. JEB LS #18381 2/10/2025