FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 14, 2025 
CONTACT: press@mentalhealth.nyc.gov, (212) 788-4254    

New York City Addresses Behavioral Health Workforce Crisis with New Report to Transform the Approach to Mental Health and Workforce Development 

OCMH Report Identifies Several Key Challenges and Solutions to Combat the Current Behavioral Health Workforce Shortage 

NEW YORK, NY – The Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health (OCMH) today released a report, “Bridging the Gap: Challenges and Solutions for a Thriving Behavioral Health Workforce,” outlining a multi-faceted approach to address the critical behavioral health workforce shortage crisis, impacting the city’s ability to provide essential mental health and substance use treatment services to all New Yorkers.  The report outlines several solutions meant to transform the city’s approach to mental health and workforce development to continue to deliver a safer and more affordable New York City for families. 

OCMH recognizes the urgent need for a robust and diverse behavioral health workforce, particularly within the public sector, where it serves low-income and uninsured individuals. Analyzing and understanding the behavioral health workforce challenges is crucial as it helps identify the root causes and underlying factors. This approach ensures that solutions target the core issue, not just the symptoms, and provides a clear, strategic path forward. 

On January 8, OCMH hosted a symposium where the report was shared with behavioral health leaders and experts from 60 organizations including New York City and New York State government agencies, community and faith-based organizations, educational institutions, private sector, and funders. Challenges were presented and avenues for responses to these challenges were explored. 

The “Bridging the Gap” report identifies four key challenge areas contributing to the current shortage: 

• A Labor Crisis: Significant vacancy rates and staff turnover for behavioral health professionals in public institutions and organizations.
• A Mental Health Crisis for Practitioners: High rates of burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and moral injury among practitioners.
• A Crisis of Representation: A lack of racial, ethnic, and disciplinary diversity within the workforce. 
• An Investment Crisis: Insufficient investment in workforce expansion and sustainability. 

To combat these challenges, OCMH has identified a range of solutions and promising practices, which comprise four avenues for response: 

• Career Pathways: Creating opportunities for entry and advancement in the behavioral health sector at all life stages, from early exposure programs to advanced credentialing pathways. 
• Educational Access: Expanding access to behavioral health training and credentials through various educational pathways, including college-connected certification programs and support for graduate-level education. 
• Talent Development: Investing in the existing workforce through organizational changes, professional development initiatives, and enhanced employee benefits. 
• Capacity Building: Strengthening community-based organizations, particularly BIPOC-led organizations in underserved areas, through upskilling staff and adapting evidence-based interventions. 

OCMH emphasizes the importance of authentic collaboration and trust-based partnerships. Strategies will prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion and incorporate the lived experiences of impacted communities. 

“By 2030, our behavioral health workforce is projected to comprise over 100,000 practitioners across the five boroughs and is at the heart of efforts to support New Yorkers in need of mental health or substance use services,” said Anne Williams-Isom, NYC Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services. “The ‘Bridging the Gap’ report provides insights into their experiences and challenges, spotlighting new ways to improve training, support, and well-being. We look forward to working with leaders in the behavioral health field in the coming months and years bringing together government, nonprofits, practitioners, and advocates as we set a more sustainable path for this key workforce.” 

“Addressing the behavioral health needs of New York City requires a collaborative and forward-thinking approach, as well as a commitment to systems-level change. This paper highlights promising practices being explored and implemented by OCMH and other key stakeholders to address the workforce crisis within and outside of NYC,” said Eva Wong, Executive Director of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health. “At the heart of this effort is the framework of community mental health, which emphasizes a diverse, well-supported workforce, and culturally responsive, person-centered care tailored to the needs of the communities we serve. By fostering multi-sector collaborations and leveraging our city’s unparalleled diversity, we believe NYC is well-positioned to address workforce needs and lead in behavioral health workforce development.” 

“Bridging the Gap” shines a critical light on the importance of investing in the city’s talent and developing career pathways to reduce a labor shortage of behavioral health workers by addressing its root causes,” said Abby Jo Sigal, Executive Director of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development. “The report demonstrates how robust public-private partnerships with diverse organizations are critical to build a robust talent pipeline with the experience and expertise to serve all New Yorkers, and especially low income or uninsured New Yorkers who historically been unable to benefit from the city’s behavioral health services.” 

“New York City, one of the world’s toughest cities, is now at critical risk due to a deepening behavioral health workforce crisis,” said Jasmine Vega-Pegram, NYACH Executive Director. “I am honored to join with our colleagues at this convening to discuss this critical report that highlights the urgency of collaborating with The Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health (OCMH) to fully illustrate the crisis’s impact on residents and energize vital private sector partnerships to address these challenges.” 

“New York City is not exempt from a national shortage in the behavioral health workforce, and we know having providers that reflect the community they serve and provider wellbeing are crucial to providing high quality, equitable care,” said Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse. “At the NYC Health Department, we will continue our efforts to bolster the ranks of behavioral health workers while continuing to serve the behavioral health needs of New Yorkers. We look forward to this important work with our partners in government and on the ground as we support a healthier city for all.” 

“We are at a pivotal moment for addressing New York City’s behavioral health workforce crisis. New Yorkers, including those with lived experience, are eager to play a vital role in fostering the wellbeing of our communities,” said Heather Day, Director of Community and Workforce Initiatives, NYC Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health. “Behavioral health is a high growth sector with many living wage jobs and continued expansion expected over the next 10 years, so we have a unique opportunity to act now. By investing in this essential workforce, we can not only meet the rising demand for services but also create a stronger, more resilient city for everyone.” 

This initiative represents a significant step towards ensuring that all New Yorkers have access to the mental health services they need. OCMH is committed to building a strong, diverse, and well-supported behavioral health workforce to create a healthier and more equitable city. 

About the Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health     

The Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health is committed to improving mental health outcomes for all New Yorkers, so that more people can get the mental health support they need to live healthy and content lives. We advance our goals by coordinating the development of citywide policies and strategies to fill critical gaps in mental healthcare.    

OCMH works with City agencies to reduce barriers to mental health care for marginalized communities. Our priorities are rooted in equity, racial justice, and cultural responsiveness. We adopt a community-centered and strength-based approach that recognizes diverse perspectives, lived experiences, resilience, and the unique needs of New Yorkers.  

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