New York’s mental health system is facing a significant challenge, according to a recent report from Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. Over the past decade, there has been a 23% increase in the number of individuals utilizing the state’s public mental health services, totaling nearly 900,000 New Yorkers. However, despite this rise in demand, the capacity of inpatient psychiatric facilities has decreased by 10.5% statewide from April 2014 to December 2023.
This decline in psychiatric beds is even more pronounced outside of New York City, where there has been a 9.8% reduction. The decrease has been attributed in part to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as individuals turned to telehealth services or avoided seeking inpatient care. As a result, many inpatient psychiatric facilities were not being utilized adequately and led to their closure.
In response to the decreased capacity, the state Department of Health and Office of Mental Health directed community hospitals to reopen around 850 beds in January 2023. However, as of December only about 500 of these beds have returned to operations. This initiative aims to address the immediate need for psychiatric beds but also highlights a long-term decline in inpatient facilities that DiNapoli attributes to policy decisions made decades ago.
Overall, the report underscores the challenges facing New York’s mental health system and the ongoing efforts needed to ensure adequate care for individuals with mental illness.
