SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (WRGB) — Assemblymember Carrie Woerner celebrates the return of 988’s youth LGBTQ+ services. But after more than a year without the national support, she introduced legislation that lead to the New York State Office of Mental Health receiving funding to create its own line.
“Hopefully that is a permanent statement that they’re going to do this. However, I think from a state’s perspective, I think we need to continue to make an investment, particularly in training crisis counselors,” said Woerner.
$1.8 million is available, with $1.2 million to operate the line and $600,000 to train hundreds of local crisis counselors according to OMH. The assemblymember said training should go forward as beyond offering support over the phone, they can work in other, in-person environments.
“That’s what we need is more people in those roles and then we would have the ability, we would have a workforce that could be directed towards a hotline should the federal government not continue that.”
Assemblymember Woerner also pointed to her rural constituents being more vulnerable. OMH states LGBTQ+ youth experience disproportionately higher rates of depression, housing instability, suicidal ideation and attempts to name a few.
The New York State Office of Mental Health sent the following statement:
“New York State is fully committed to providing support to anyone experiencing a mental health crisis –especially among individuals in at-risk populations. While we are pleased the national ‘press 3’ option has been restored to 988, we want to ensure that all communities in New York have access to trusted and consistently available support when a crisis arises. Governor Kathy Hochul allocated funding for a dedicated crisis line in the FY 2027 budget specifically to ensure the LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults in our state have somewhere to turn for trusted, compassionate, and affirming support during times of crisis, and we are proud to see this service move forward.”
Separate proposals for an existing, qualified organization to run a crisis line and to train crisis counselors are being accepted. The goal is to have everything ready to go next summer.