Hochul Rolls Out 'Real Care' Campaign to Boost NY Mental Health Access

ALBANY, N.Y. — Governor Kathy Hochul announced the 'Real Care, Real Access to Behavioral Health Services' campaign, a multi-platform effort led by the Department of Financial Services and Office of Mental Health to inform New Yorkers about regulations mandating initial outpatient behavioral health appointments within 10 business days for those with qualifying plans.[1] The initiative, which runs through June, features multilingual ads on social media, transportation signage, digital kiosks, television, radio and streaming services, alongside a new website detailing patient rights and complaint filing processes.[1] It aims to drive more New Yorkers to in-network mental health and substance use disorder care, addressing longstanding barriers in underserved rural areas like the Adirondacks and urban neighborhoods in New York City and Rochester.[1] This campaign anchors Hochul's broader $1 billion multi-year plan, outlined in her 2023 State of the State address and funded through the FY 2024 Executive Budget, to transform New York's mental health continuum by expanding access, slashing wait times and correcting chronic underinvestment.[2] Recent investments include a $102 million push announced earlier, with $92 million creating 26 Critical Time Intervention teams to support discharged patients with serious mental illness, and $10 million expanding the Safe Options Support program, which has housed nearly 390 long-term homeless New Yorkers, including youth in places like Syracuse and Albany.[3] The plan envisions 50 such CTI teams statewide, bolstering wraparound care from the Hudson Valley to Long Island.[3] Hochul's efforts extend to youth mental health, with resources on the 'Be Well' platform promoting digital wellness amid rising teen depression post-COVID, complementing expansions like $50 million for inpatient services and school-based clinics.[4][6] Listening sessions coordinated by the Office of Mental Health and Office of Children and Family Services gathered input from young New Yorkers in Buffalo and beyond, informing policies to shield kids from harmful social media.[6] As part of her 2026 State of the State proposals, Hochul seeks further behavioral health fortifications for resilient communities statewide.[5]