JSA2026 Policy Proposal: The New York Mental Health First Act

Overview:
New York’s mental health system is broken. Our emergency response system criminalizes the sick, our streets and subways are full of untreated trauma, and our support programs often exclude those most in need. The New York Mental Health First Act is a bold restructuring of how our state responds to crisis, addiction, and mental illness—with care, not cuffs.

Core Provisions:

1. Civilian-First Mental Health Crisis Response (STAR/CAHOOTS Model)

• Statewide fleet of Mental Health Crisis Units staffed by clinicians and crisis-trained medics.
• 911 calls for mental distress, addiction, homelessness, or suicide will trigger these units, not police.
• Police dispatched only if public safety requires it.
• Pilots in NYC, Rochester, Syracuse, and Buffalo in Year 1; statewide by Year 3.

2. 911 Mental Health Call Diversion System

• Create a mental health triage protocol for dispatchers.
• Non-violent or psychiatric calls rerouted directly to crisis units.
• 911 operator training in trauma, signs, and routing.

3. Drug Addiction Recovery & Replacement Program Reform

• Clinics must offer counseling, housing support, and job assistance—not just medication.
• Dosage tapering plans required; no more endless max-dose methadone.
• Audits and shutdowns for abusive or fraudulent clinics.
• Expand holistic rehab and MAT (Medication-Assisted Treatment).
• Track outcomes, relapse rates, and compliance statewide.

4. Transgender-Inclusive Mental Health Services

• All state mental health programs must provide inclusive services to transgender New Yorkers.
• Enforce anti-discrimination at all levels of care.
• Create a Transgender Mental Health Advisory Board to report annually.

5. Youth & School-Based Services

• Every NY public middle/high school must have access to licensed mental health professionals.
• SUNY/CUNY partnerships to train future therapists through fellowship programs.
• Fund trauma centers for at-risk youth in all regions.

6. Mental Health Community Hubs

• Repurpose state-owned buildings into Community Mental Health Hubs.
• Walk-in access to counseling, detox, job programs, legal aid, and peer groups.
• At least one hub per region by 2028.

7. Public Health Transparency & Oversight Panel

• Quarterly public reporting on mental health budgets, overdose trends, and usage stats.
• Data must be published on a statewide dashboard.
• Governor’s Oversight Panel on Mental Health includes rotating expert/citizen seats.

Why It Matters:

• 1 in 5 adults in NY suffer from mental illness—we can’t arrest or ignore that away.
• Homelessness, incarceration, and suicides are rising because we fail to intervene with care.
• Public safety must start with public healing.
• This act puts Mental Health First—literally and legislatively.

“I’m not a good candidate. I’m the right one.”
Vote Jason S. Arnold for Governor. Together, we can fix what others only pretend to see.