NYC Council to discuss bills expanding mental health support in public schools

Catalina Gonella

Published Nov 24, 2024

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One bill sponsored by Councilmember Rita Joseph would require the commissioner of health and mental hygiene to develop a two-year pilot program to involve mental health professionals and professional candidates in student wellness clubs in public middle and high schools.

Gerardo Romo / New York City Council Media Unit

Catalina Gonella

Published Nov 24, 2024

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City Council members are set to review a legislative package addressing youth mental health in public schools at a committee on mental health, disabilities, and addiction hearing on Monday morning.

The bills would allow city agencies to create programs aimed at helping students navigate mental health issues, including through wellness clubs and additional mental health professionals. The legislation will be discussed at a hearing on Monday as part of the Council’s Mental Health Roadmap, an initiative to improve mental health outcomes across the city.

Two of the bills would require the city’s health commissioner to come up with mental health programming for all public middle and high schools.

The first bill, sponsored by Councilmember Rita Joseph, would mandate the commissioner develop a two-year pilot program involving mental health professionals in public school wellness clubs to facilitate discussions on mental health topics.

The second bill, sponsored by Councilmember Althea Stevens, would require the commissioner to create a peer-to-peer mental health training program that would teach students to identify and assist peers who are experiencing mental health issues.

Another bill, sponsored by Councilmember Linda Lee, would direct the Department of Health to create student wellness club toolkits, teaching students how to create “peer-led student spaces focused on student wellbeing and mental health.”

The fourth bill, sponsored by Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala, would require the police department to report violent incidents to the health department, which would then be required to conduct outreach to the affected community.

The hearing is set for Monday at 10 a.m. at City Hall.

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