New York, NY – New York State Senator Kristen Gonzalez and Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins presented $5 million to Bellevue Hospital’s Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, which operates the only 24/7 Children’s Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP) in New York City. Senator Gonzalez hosted state legislators earlier this year on a tour of Bellevue’s psychiatric department to emphasize the need for funding to upgrade and renovate their behavioral health units. This funding will improve and expand behavioral health care for the most vulnerable New Yorkers, including children and adolescents in crisis. 

Senator Gonzalez is thankful of this $5 million investment in Bellevue from the State Senate under Majority Leader Stewart-Cousin’s leadership. Thanks to Leader Stewart Cousins, this additional investment comes on top of millions for safety net hospitals, healthcare access for New Yorkers and mental health resources in the New York State executive budget. 

Bellevue Hospital serves as the critical child and adolescent psychiatric safety-net institution for New York City. The investment will expand the hospital’s ability to provide inpatient treatment and stabilization for young New Yorkers experiencing serious mental illness at a time of significant demand for psychiatric care. 

Last year, Bellevue saw nearly 2,000 emergency visits in their pediatric psychiatry unit, and admitted 531 patients to their inpatient care units. A third of those patients were transferred from other hospitals, demonstrating Bellevue’s citywide reach and unique services. 

Senator Kristen Gonzalez said, “Bellevue Hospital is an institution in our city. As a safety net hospital, they serve millions of people regardless of insurance, income, or immigration status. They are one of the only youth and adolescent psychiatric emergency programs in our city, at a time where our young people are facing more and more mental health challenges in the digital age. Supporting them and supporting Bellevue’s psychiatric services, is of the utmost priority. I want to thank Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins for her $5 million investment; her leadership has enabled Bellevue to continue providing programs that save the lives of so many New Yorkers.”

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “With suicide continuing to be the second leading cause of death for young people in New York State, The Senate Democratic Conference has continually worked to ensure New York’s youth have access to the mental services and resources they need to thrive. Today’s $5 million dollar investment, following Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, will strengthen Bellevue’s child and adolescent behavioral health unit, ensuring the hospital can continue providing young patients with life-saving psychiatric and mental health crisis services. As New York City’s only children and adolescent comprehensive psychiatric emergency program (CPEP), Bellevue’s medical professionals are on the frontlines of addressing mental health-related issues, preventing youth across New York City from struggling in silence. Comprehensive psychiatric emergency programs have provided crucial lifelines for countless New Yorkers of all backgrounds, ages, and identities. This investment further builds upon New York’s ongoing efforts to significantly expand and improve existing adult and pediatric CPEP services statewide. I thank Senator Gonzalez, Dr. Wei, and all our friends at Bellevue for their partnership to make this investment possible.” 

NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue Chief Executive Officer Eric Wei, MD, MBA said, “Bellevue Hospital has cared for New Yorkers in their most vulnerable moments for nearly 300 years, and that commitment includes making sure children and adolescents experiencing a mental health crisis have access to the care they need. This $5 million investment from the New York State Senate will help us create a brighter, safer, and more therapeutic environment while expanding our capacity to care for young people from across New York City. We are deeply grateful to Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and Senator Gonzalez for recognizing the urgent need to invest in behavioral health and for helping Bellevue Hospital build a stronger safety net for the next generation.”

Congressman Jerry Nadler said, “As New York City’s safety-net health system, NYC Health + Hospitals delivers high quality healthcare to New Yorkers of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds. I am deeply grateful to the nurses, doctors, and care teams at Bellevue for taking care of New Yorkers’ mental health needs every day. Thank you to Senator Gonzalez and the entirety of the New York State Senate for supporting Bellevue’s critical work with this $5 million investment in children and adolescent mental health care units.”

Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal said, "Bellevue is the crown jewel of New York City's public hospital system, and I'm elated to celebrate this $5 million capital investment in its Child and Adolescent Mental Health Inpatient Units secured by Senator Kristen Gonzalez and Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. New York is facing a youth mental health crisis, and too many young Manhattanites and their families are left waiting for the care they urgently need. This funding will modernize and expand Bellevue's inpatient units, creating a safer, more therapeutic environment for children and teens in crisis. I look forward to continue working with Senator Gonzalez, Leader Stewart-Cousins, and Bellevue to make sure Manhattan's most vulnerable young people get the care they deserve."

Senator Liz Krueger said, "I'm so pleased that the Senate was able to secure this important capital funding for Bellevue's Children and Adolescent Mental Health Inpatient Units. The work that is being done here changes lives for children and their families, and this funding will help support critical renovations and improvements to ensure the best possible care for young New Yorkers."

Senator Gustavo Rivera said, “I am pleased to support this $5 million investment from the New York State Senate in Bellevue Hospital’s Child and Adolescent mental health facilities. This funding will allow for new equipment and technologies for their inpatient units. Thank you to Senator Kristen Gonzalez and Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins for their leadership in securing this investment.”

Senator Erik Bottcher said, “This $5 million investment will have a direct and meaningful impact on children and adolescents receiving inpatient mental health care at Bellevue, providing them with safer, more modern, and more supportive spaces to heal and recover. The physical environment where young people receive care matters enormously, and these improvements will help Bellevue’s dedicated professionals provide the highest quality care to some of our most vulnerable young New Yorkers. I commend Senator Kristen Gonzalez for her leadership in securing this vital funding and thank Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins for her commitment to strengthening mental health care for children and families across our city and state.”

Council Member Virginia Maloney said, "“When New Yorkers face a mental health crisis, Bellevue is one of the places they turn for care. Children and teenagers deserve to find the same dignity, safety, and quality of treatment when they need help most. This $5 million investment from the State Senate builds on the City Council’s historic investment in Bellevue’s adult psychiatric care and will help strengthen the hospital’s ability to care for New Yorkers at every stage of life. I’m grateful to Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Senator Kristen Gonzalez for investing in Bellevue and in the young New Yorkers who depend on it.”

Dr. J. Rebecca Weis, Chief of Service and Director of Child Psychiatry, at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue said, “For a child or adolescent in psychiatric crisis, the environment where they receive care matters. Our new space will give young people a brighter, more welcoming and therapeutic place to heal, while allowing us to care for more children and adolescents who need inpatient treatment. Bellevue is uniquely positioned to serve young people from across New York City, including children transferred from other hospitals when they need a higher level of psychiatric care. This investment will help us meet that need and provide children and families with the specialized care they deserve.”

Allison Brown, MSN, RN, Director of Nursing, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue said, “Our nurses see every day how important it is for children and adolescents to feel safe, supported and cared for when they are going through a mental health crisis. The new space will create a more therapeutic environment for our patients and a safer, more functional workplace for the staff who care for them. Adding 10 beds also means we can help more young people receive the specialized inpatient care they need closer to home. We are incredibly grateful for this investment in our patients, our families and our staff.”

NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue Chief Operating Officer Erfan Karim, MPH said, “When a child is in psychiatric crisis, families need a place they can trust and care they can count on. Bellevue Hospital serves that role for children and adolescents across all five boroughs. This investment will help us expand from 45 to 55 inpatient beds and create spaces designed for young patients to recover and our teams to deliver exceptional care. We are grateful to Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and Senator Gonzalez for helping us meet this critical need. Our responsibility now is to bring these beds into service. Every additional bed means another child we can care for and another family we can support.”

Omar Fattal, MD, MPH, NYC Health + Hospitals Chief Behavioral Health Officer said, “Thanks to the advocacy of State Senator Gonzalez, this $5 million will make a meaningful difference for children and adolescents receiving mental health care at Bellevue. This funding will help create a new child and adolescent psychiatric unit, providing safe and healing spaces for young New Yorkers with complex behavioral health needs so they can receive longer-term specialized treatment. We are grateful to Senator Gonzalez for securing this critical investment and to the Bellevue behavioral health team for its leadership in bringing this partnership forward.”