Each May, we celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month. It’s a time to remember how essential mental health is to our community in Rockland County. When every resident gets the support they need, we all thrive. Mental health isn’t just a side issue; it’s vital for individual well-being and community safety.
In 2025, our Department of Mental Health has made significant strides to strengthen our support system. One key achievement was the soft launch of Rockland’s Behavioral Health Helpline on December 1. This helpline offers residents a one-stop destination for information, help, crisis support, and mobile responses anywhere in the county. We’re making it even easier to access this service with a memorable phone number soon to be announced.
We’ve also taken steps to tackle the opioid crisis. With funds from an Opioid Settlement, we opened Rockland’s second Oxford House, providing 10 recovery beds for women and mothers with children. Plus, we’re expanding access to lifesaving tools like Narcan. These efforts contributed to a 6.5% drop in drug-related deaths in 2025, showing the positive impact of our programs.
Reducing stigma around mental health remains a priority. Over 300 local providers, educators, and first responders received training in autism and neurodiversity. This education ensures that residents get compassionate care when they need it most. We also boosted recreational opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities and helped more than 80 families navigate services from the NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD).
Looking forward to 2026, we aim to establish a psychosocial club for adults facing serious mental health challenges. We’re expanding services for young children, enhancing OPWDD support, and launching a farm-based after-school program. Our goal is to help kids build social and self-regulation skills. Additionally, we’re enhancing housing support and introducing harm-reduction vending machines, among other projects.
This Mental Health Awareness Month, I want to express our commitment: Rockland County will keep developing compassionate, forward-thinking services that meet our community’s needs. Together, we are fostering a place where everyone can feel safe, supported, and hopeful.
For more about mental health initiatives, you can visit trusted sources like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for additional resources and insights.
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