The New York State Governor’s Office and the Office of Mental Health (OMH) released new data and plain‑language infographics on July 23, 2026, tracking programs established and expanded following Governor Kathy Hochul’s $1 billion mental health initiative and subsequent budget investments.
What was released
OMH compiled metrics across 23 areas of the behavioral health continuum and grouped key indicators into four categories for public-facing infographics: access to care; prevention and youth services; crisis services; and specialized services. The infographics are posted on the Office of Mental Health website and are intended to be updated periodically as new data become available.
Topics highlighted
- Access to care: expanded Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs), inpatient capacity, outpatient clinic program expansions, and workforce supports.
- Prevention and youth services: programs such as HealthySteps, Youth Safe Spaces, suicide prevention efforts, partial hospitalization programs, and Home‑Based Crisis Intervention teams.
- Crisis services: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, crisis stabilization centers, behavioral health–led crisis response, crisis residences, and mobile crisis teams.
- Specialized services: Critical Time Intervention, Assertive Community Treatment, Safe Options Supports, Intensive and Sustained Engagement teams, and housing instability interventions.
Context and reactions
The release frames the infographics as part of an effort to increase transparency about the impact of the administration’s investments since the 2023 $1 billion initiative. Governor Kathy Hochul is quoted saying New Yorkers should take pride in the work to make the state a national leader in mental health care. OMH Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan is quoted describing the materials as demonstrating how investments are strengthening the statewide system of care.
The announcement also notes that Mental Health America ranked New York first nationally in its report “The State of Mental Health in America” and presented Governor Hochul with its 2026 Governor’s Leadership Award for sustained investments in mental health systems.
What to watch for
OMH said it will update each infographic periodically. The release is intended as a statewide overview; it does not include community‑level breakdowns or direct links to downloadable data tables in the announcement text. Reporters and local officials may want to request regional or county-level metrics to assess impacts in Western New York and Buffalo specifically.
