The New York State Office of Mental Health announced today that nearly $3.7 million in federal funding has been awarded to help prevent suicide among at-risk youth and young adults on Staten Island. Administered by OMH’s Suicide Prevention Center of New York, the funding over five years will help implement the ‘MISSION’ project, which combines clinical interventions for at-risk youth and young adults with suicide prevention approaches.

“Effective suicide prevention requires communitywide action,” Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said. “The ‘MISSION’ project will bring together institutions, providers, and community members across Staten Island to develop a collaborative approach. This multi-tiered approach highlights Governor Kathy Hochul’s ongoing commitment to addressing youth mental health and ensuring young New Yorkers have the supports they can rely on to live and thrive.”

The project will develop prevention services for students and strengthen behavioral health supports, including training for adults to identify and refer at-risk youth to an integrated system for rapid referrals; and providing universal screening and evidence-based interventions in behavioral health settings. The initiative will also develop a partnership for crisis stabilization, suicide-specific interventions, and rapid response to the specialized needs of youth with suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Prevention will be integrated into local public schools in the borough, Wagner College, and the College of Staten Island, which is part of the CUNY system, along with four major behavioral health organizations serving the area. The project will involve a collaboration between the Suicide Prevention Center, and the Staten Island Borough President’s Office, the state Office of Addiction Services and Supports, the Staten Island Partnership for Community Wellness, and Staten Island’s public schools, in conjunction with the Jewish Board for Family and Children’s Services, Richmond University Medical Center, Staten Island University Hospital, and Project Hospitality.

Through the duration of the five-year grant, the project will provide prevention services to more than 30,000 youth and young adults between the ages of 10 and 24 who are at-risk for suicide. An additional 12,000 youth will be provided clinical services through the initiative, with an additional 2,500 receiving specialty services.

Staten Island was selected for the project due to the area’s elevated rate of youth suicide and overdose deaths. The borough also has a youth suicide rate similar to the rest of the state, is relatively self-contained in that most residents receive education and healthcare locally; and reflects the overall diversity of New York.

The funding was announced during Suicide Prevention Month, which is dedicated to promoting awareness, education, and action to prevent suicide. The recognition honors the lives lost to suicide, supports the survivors of suicide loss, and reinforces New York State’s commitment to mental health and wellness for all.

Suicide claimed the lives of more than 1,700 individuals in New York in 2022. It is the second leading cause of death among individuals between the age of 25 and 34, and the third leading cause of death for youth and young adults between the age of 10 and 24.

Office of Addiction Services and Supports Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham said, “Today’s announcement builds upon New York State’s efforts to bring essential suicide prevention services to youths and young adults. The ‘MISSION’ Project mirrors the work we at OASAS—alongside our OMH partners—undertake every day to meet the often-co-occurring substance use and mental health needs of young people. This care, which includes suicide screenings, is woven throughout our prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery continuum of care.”

New York State Psychiatric Institute Executive Director Dr. Joshua A. Gordon said, “Supporting the mental health of our youth is a critical investment in the future of our communities. By identifying and addressing the unique needs of at-risk individuals on Staten Island, the ‘MISSION’ project will create a framework for targeted interventions that can prevent crises before they occur. The collaborative nature of this initiative reflects the power of partnerships in tackling such a complex issue as youth suicide.”

Suicide Prevention Center Director Dr. Jay Carruthers said, “The ‘MISSION’ project is a first of its kind initiative for the State that aims to break through silos in healthcare and education in service of youth mental health with implications for the rest of the City and State.”

Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella said, “We are grateful to receive funding to start this unique youth mental health program. In fact, it is the first mental health program in the country that has been created by our community for our community. We are grateful to all the individuals and organizations that came together to try to help young people who may be experiencing troubles that could lead to something far worse.  We want to get kids the help they need, before it is too late. We are pleased that the New York State Office of Mental Health has been with us from day one, and equally appreciative of SAMSHA for providing the funding that will make a difference.”