(WNY News Now) Governor Kathy Hochul has announced $2 million in funding to improve suicide prevention and wellness programs for those who serve our communities and country, marking a courageous move to address the mental health issue plaguing uniformed people and veterans.
Up to $2 million has been made available by Governor Kathy Hochul to increase efforts to prevent suicide and promote resilience among uniformed professionals, including police enforcement, firemen, emergency medical services personnel, correctional officers, and emergency dispatchers, as well as veterans of the armed forces. The CARES UP initiative, which is run by the New York Office of Mental Health’s Suicide Prevention Center of New York, offers financial support to agencies and organizations so they can expand their wellness programs and suicide prevention initiatives.
On the job, our first responders and service personnel deal with a great deal of stress and trauma, which can negatively impact their mental health.Hochulsaid, the governor.In order to ensure that these people may get the assistance and care they so richly deserve and require, funding from the CARES UP initiative is assisting agencies and organizations around the State in integrating resilience and mental wellness into their programming.
Over the course of two years, the CARES UP program gives $30,000 to each discipline each year to support wellness initiatives and suicide prevention initiatives within their agency. In the FY 2025 State Budget, Governor Hochul was able to double the program’s funding to $2 million per year, enabling OMH to extend eligibility to emergency dispatchers.
First responder agencies collaborate closely with the Suicide Prevention Center to design agency-specific initiatives to meet their specific needs and receive training from national subject matter experts on subjects like resiliency, mental health and wellbeing, suicide prevention, and peer support. Examples include offering wellness training, developing internal peer support networks, and buying wellness or mental health applications for their employees and family.
Additionally, through Onward Ops, the initiative offers these grants to veterans’ organizations. The funds are used by recipient groups to support the social welfare of service members returning to their communities following their tour of duty.
CARES UP encourages self-care and good mental wellbeing for New Yorkers who put their personal safety at risk to safeguard our communities, according to Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan. For those experiencing trauma and stress at work, this support can be life-saving as they attempt to make sense of their experiences. Governor Hochul’s dedication to supporting our first responders, veterans, and their families is demonstrated by her ongoing support of this program.
“I have fought to expand access to critical mental health resources for our veterans in my district and state since I took office,” stated State Senator Samra G. Brouk. additional than 11% of suicides in New York State occur among veterans; they require additional peer support and life-saving treatments. We appreciate Governor Hochul’s commitment to trauma-informed mental wellbeing and his investment in suicide prevention initiatives for first responders and veterans.
According to State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, 22 veterans sadly commit suicide every day, highlighting the critical need to address the mental health issue among veterans. As the wife of an Army veteran and the chair of the New York Senate’s soldiers, Homeland Security, and Military Affairs Committee, I have seen firsthand the tremendous obstacles that our soldiers encounter upon returning from deployment. I am also aware of how much it costs our first responders, who put their lives in danger every day to save and protect others, frequently at the price of their own emotional well-being. In order to solve this situation, Governor Hochul’s call to action with this financing is a crucial first step. New York is setting the standard by lowering the stigma associated with suicide and increasing assistance for first responders and veterans who are at risk. Through the Cares Up project, agencies and organizations will receive $2 million in funding to improve suicide prevention efforts and create wellness initiatives that have a long-lasting impact on the lives of people who serve our communities and country.
In 2022, the inaugural class of CARES UP awards was given out. The second cohort of CARES UP was introduced last year, and 15 groups received financing, including three EMS squads, five law enforcement agencies, a fire department, a prison department, and three organizations that assist veterans.
According to studies, uniformed members frequently experience accumulated stress and trauma, which increases their risk of suicide. One recent study found that first responders were more likely to die by suicide than while doing their duties.
Similarly, the suicide rate among New York veterans is about twice that of civilians, and it hasn’t improved much since 2012. In New York, the highest suicide rates are regularly found among veterans under the age of 55.
Governor Hochul’s steadfast dedication to the mental health and wellbeing of our Veterans and military people is having a positive impact and saving lives, according to Viviana DeCohen, commissioner of the New York State Department of Veterans Services. Those who have devoted their life to serving and defending our country and their communities are getting the help they require to deal with the particular strains and traumas they encounter thanks to the CARES UP program. Without a question, the Governor’s extraordinary investment in CARES UP will save lives and increase our warriors’ fortitude. I express my gratitude to the Governor for her unwavering leadership in addressing the needs of New York’s military families, veterans, service members, and everyone who serves and protects.
Commissioner Jackie Bray of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services stated, “It is critical that our first responders are given the resources they need to maintain their mental health because they deal with situations on a daily basis that others cannot comprehend.” In order to assist keep our first responders as safe as they keep us, our actions will significantly address those needs.
Commissioner Rossana Rosado of the Division of Criminal Justice Services stated,It is crucial to protect the health and welfare of the men and women who have devoted their professional lives to serving their nation. To help ensure that our state’s law enforcement professionals have the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to maintain their physical and mental health in the face of extreme stress and know where to turn for support if they need it, DCJS has incorporated these topics into both basic training and in-service courses.