Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the New York City Health Department launched the NYC Mental Health Connect website on Oct. 9 as an easy and accessible way to search for mental health services based on the person’s needs and preferences. 

New York residents can explore over 600 state-licensed providers by answering a brief questionnaire on the website.  

“Finding an accessible, affordable mental health provider should be simple, but for too many, the difficulty of finding care can prevent them from seeking the help they need,” Mamdani said.  

Through the questions answered, the website will personalize the services offered based on the person’s needs, such as their appointment availability, languages spoken, accepted insurance and age.  

The website includes a variety of programs to address the patient’s needs, such as rehabilitation services, crisis services, intellectual and developmental disabilities services, employment and education support and social programs for housing, food security and legal assistance.  

For every location recommended by the website, it will also provide the address, operating hours, earliest availability, ages served, program types, treatment approaches and languages spoken.  

Through the New York State Office of Mental Health, the NYC Mental Health Connect received a $5 million grant to support the advancement and launch of the website.  

Officials are attempting to resolve the issue of lack of access to mental health care for people across NYC, including teenagers.  

24% of NYC teens surveyed said they needed or wanted mental health care but didn’t know where to get it, according to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s 2024 report titled “The State of Mental Health of New Yorkers.”  

The same source also reported that nearly half of adults that said they struggled to function due to their unmet need for mental health treatment, and more than 40% of those adults reported not knowing who to reach out to or where to go for support. 

NYC Mental Health Connect allows New York City residents to access mental health services for themselves or others with ease.  

“This incredible resource allows users to easily locate care in their communities, their living rooms, or online and makes sure that anyone seeking vital, life-changing mental healthcare will find it without difficulty,” Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Helen Arteaga said.  

The website includes the date of when the provider’s information was last updated to keep everything current, accurate and offer resourceful information for those in need.  

The NYC Mental Health Connect website’s overall goal is to support NYC residents by giving them enough resources to aid and guide them through mental health crises. 

Through its regular updates, users will be able to receive the latest information on providers who are accepting referrals.