Concerned about the mental health crisis affecting many New Yorkers, the New York City Public Defender today provided several recommendations to Mayor Eric Adams’ administration inside this Chambers Street train station.
Many of them had already been offered in 2019. However, he insisted that the city can improve even more.
“Three years ago there was a huge police presence inside the subway dealing with the cases of people with mental health problems, today we see that this has not improved,” says the ombudsman.
Among other recommendations, she is asking the city to implement a number that people can call for help if they have a mental health crisis and that is not 911.
“Police should be trained in case it’s needed, but they shouldn’t be the ones to come, there need to be specialized teams to assist people with a mental health crisis,” adds Williams.
Some New Yorkers agree that the city should do more for those with mental health issues.
Like Fernando Villafranca, who claims that:
“It’s important because ultimately it’s not the direct fault of these people. I think the government would do well to help them and lend a hand, and in general help the whole of society here in New York.”
It also recommends implementing an annual mental health assessment program for young public school students.
“I think mental health is a current problem, especially after these years that we have had a pandemic, it has gotten worse, because we have been locked up and the situation has changed. Mental health is an integral part of all of us, we have to deal with it, says Martha Villafranca, another New Yorker asked about it.
Finally, in his investigative report, the public defender provides guidance on how the city can help people suffering from mental health crises, care for them and put them on the path to recovery.
The aim is to treat mental health problems as public health problems, instead of criminalizing those who suffer from psychological illnesses
