Northwell Health is set to expand its psychiatric services on Long Island by adding 28 new inpatient beds and upgrading existing facilities. This announcement came from Governor Kathy Hochul, who revealed $6.6 million in funding aimed at enhancing mental health care in the region. The financial boost will not only improve services in Long Island but also extend to areas in Queens and beyond.
Specifically, Northwell plans to invest $5.6 million in a 24-bed unit for adolescents at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park. Additionally, four beds will be added at South Oaks Hospital in Amityville for teens dealing with mental health and substance use issues. Another $1 million will go toward improving recreational facilities at South Oaks and Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson, which serves both children and adults.
Dr. John Young, Northwell’s senior vice president for behavioral health, emphasized the importance of encouraging physical activity and social interaction. “We want them off the screens,” he said, stressing a holistic approach to mental health care.
This funding is part of a larger $2 billion initiative launched in 2023 to tackle a growing mental health crisis, worsened by the isolation experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a 2024 report by the state comptroller, Long Island has seen a notable decrease in psychiatric care beds—47 in Nassau and 129 in Suffolk from 2014 to 2023. This reflects a troubling trend where many health systems are scaling back on behavioral health units due to low reimbursement rates. Dr. Young pointed out, however, that Northwell is bucking this trend by expanding its psychiatric services, now offering more beds than a decade ago across its facilities on Long Island.
In just the past year, Northwell has opened or expanded child and adolescent psychiatric services in several locations, including Riverhead and Melville. Their proactive approach includes school-based mental health services, collaborating with 65 districts across Long Island to provide support before crises escalate.
Despite these developments, many advocates believe the new beds won’t fully meet the demands of the community. Liz Hildebrandt from NAMI Queens/Nassau voiced concerns, noting that many people are discharged too soon from hospitals. “They may end up on the streets without proper follow-up care,” she warned, highlighting a significant gap in long-term mental health support.
Jeffrey Reynolds, CEO of the Family & Children’s Association, echoed these sentiments, stressing the urgency for more community services. He pointed out that mental health issues among young people are often intertwined with the ongoing opioid crisis, as they seek ways to cope with anxiety and depression.
Recent stats from the state comptroller’s report show a 23% increase in people served by the public mental health system over the last decade. Yet, cases of severe mental illness are rising, while the number of available psychiatric beds diminishes. This stark data illustrates the ongoing challenges in mental health care.
As New York State continues to invest in mental health services, the efforts to enhance community-based resources and ensure comprehensive follow-up care remain paramount. The journey to improving mental health care on Long Island is ongoing, but these recent steps signify a hopeful shift in addressing this critical issue.
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Health, Mental health, Health care, Nassau, Suffolk
