The stark contrast between the gleaming skyline of New York City and the shadowed streets, where the untreated mentally ill wander, is a daily reminder of our failed mental health system.
During Mental Health Awareness Month in May, it’s time for a candid reckoning of our community’s shortcomings and a call to action. Nearly one in five American adults have a diagnosable mental health condition in any given year, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive mental health services.
While Mayor Adams and his predecessor, Mayor Bill de Blasio, have made strides toward mental health awareness, the reality on the ground speaks volumes of the unaddressed crisis. In November 2023, there were more than 90,000 homeless people, including 33,399 homeless children, sleeping each night in New York City’s main municipal shelter system. One in six live with a serious mental illness.
The nonprofit Bowery Residents’ Committee’s homeless outreach efforts, while commendable, are not a panacea. The presence of untreated mentally ill individuals in the streets and subways of NYC is not just a failure of policy but a stark representation of the gap between the need for mental health treatment and its accessibility.
The shift in New York State’s mental health system towards more community-based services reflects a broader trend in mental health care provision. However, this transition has not been without challenges, as the need for services continues to grow.
In New Jersey, the situation mirrors that of its neighbor. 27.7% of adults in the Garden State recently reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorders, exposing a pressing need for enhanced mental health services. Moreover, the drug overdose death rates have alarmingly increased in New Jersey. This data underscores the persistent gap in meeting mental health needs, prompting an urgent call for tailored and effective responses.
It’s not enough to outline the problem; as treatment providers and witnesses to the transformative power of effective recovery, we urge concrete actions.
First, there must be an expansion of accessible, community-based mental health services, adopting a value-based payment model instead of traditional fee-for-service. Historical data from early implementations like Kendra’s Law in New York show that assisted outpatient treatment programs successfully reduced hospitalizations.
Continuously updating these programs is crucial in enhancing patient outcomes through structured, community-based care integrating therapy and medication management. This approach not only stabilizes patients but also significantly decreases the need for hospital admissions.
Second, we must advocate for a systemic shift in how we address substance abuse and mental health. The criminalization of mental illness must change. Contemporary studies underscore that individuals with serious mental illnesses are still disproportionately subject to police encounters, which too often lead to incarceration rather than appropriate medical intervention. This issue calls for a fundamental change in policy and practice, advocating for mental health interventions over punitive measures.
Third, we must also improve mental health literacy to address environmental factors influencing mental illness. In 2021, 56.8% of New Yorkers aged 12–17 who suffered from depression received no treatment, a statistic that is especially alarming and underscores the need for targeted educational initiatives.
Mental health literacy includes understanding how to maintain mental health, recognizing symptoms and treatments of common disorders, effectively seeking help and reducing stigma. Our initiatives should integrate mental health education into school curriculums, train leaders to manage health issues, and launch campaigns that clarify mental disorders and promote engagement with health resources.
Mental Health Awareness Month provides an opportunity to galvanize change. As leaders in recovery, we are duty-bound to advocate for policies that reflect compassion and pragmatism. As former athletes who battled addiction and transformed our pain into a force for community good, we serve as a testimony to what is possible.
This is not just about pointing fingers at political figures or organizations; it’s about recognizing the human cost of inaction. The untreated mentally ill on our streets are someone’s brother, sister, friend, or child. They were perhaps once professionals, athletes or caregivers before their mental health unraveled.
We call on Mayor Adams, local leaders and every citizen to prioritize mental health reform. It’s not just about building back better; it’s about building back kinder, with policies and support systems that address mental health with the urgency and gravity it deserves.
Only through a concerted, dedicated effort can we hope to change the narrative from one of neglect to one of recovery and resilience.
Scaduto and Cellary are co-founders of Valley Spring Recovery Center, an addiction treatment and mental health facility in Norwood, N.J.
