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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline AUGUST 01, 2025 | The Indian Eye 22

NYC Health + Hospitals

Expands Behavioral Health Services to

41 Domestic Violence Shelters

Patient Aisha Wilson and her two teenage children into one of the City’s domestic Aisha’s weekly therapy sessions with social worker Edith Salmeron have helped her
violence shelters, where she found free mental health support and the resources to process and heal from the trauma of her past, in ways that remind her that she is
build a new life for her family. worthy of dignity and respect.

OUR BUREAU found free mental health support for al Health Services Omar Fattal, MD, care, result in lasting physical and
herself and her son and the resources MPH. “This is why we are proud to mental health challenges,” said DSS
New York, NY
to build a new life for her family. expand this initiative to all of our Deputy Commissioner of Domes-
YC Health + Hospitals today This $5.9 million initiative aims community-based partners so that tic Violence Services Rima Rivera.
announced the expansion of to support mental health services residents of the City’s domestic vi- “Which is why expanding access to
Nits Domestic Violence Shel- to the thousands of adults and chil- olence shelters can access critical high-quality, trauma-informed mental
ter Mental Health Initiative, which dren who receive services at the city’s mental health services directly on- health services within the DV shelter
increases access to evidence-based domestic violence shelters. Family site, addressing their trauma in a pa- system is absolutely critical. These are
mental health services for families re- screenings, individual and group ses- tient-centered way and helping them life-changing interventions, and we
siding in the city’s domestic violence sions, and medication management attain stability.” are thrilled to work with NYC Health
shelters. Announced in May 2023, the are provided directly on-site to adults “The trauma that causes sur- + Hospitals to bring mental health
initiative began at 9 domestic violence and children in these domestic vio- vivors to enter the City’s domestic services directly to these facilities so
shelters building on the success of lence shelters, significantly decreas- violence shelter system is deeply survivors can quickly and convenient-
the NYC Health + Hospitals mental ing wait times. Behavioral health profound and painful, requiring im- ly access the care they deserve.”
health program operating at the City’s services, including therapy and psy- mediate support and therapy,” said “Our mental health program with
five borough-based Family Justice chiatric medication management is NYC Health + Hospitals Domes- NYC Health + Hospitals at the city’s
Centers and is now available at 41 do- provided at no cost to the resident. tic Violence Mental Health Initia- five borough-based Family Justice
mestic violence shelters. NYC Health The Domestic Violence Shelter Men- tive Director Obianuju Berry, MD, Centers has already made a mean-
+ Hospitals’ staff conducted over tal Health Initiative is a multi-agency MPH. “This is why embedding access ingful impact on the communities we
5,600 behavioral health appointments collaboration between NYC Health to mental health services directly in serve, and we’re excited to continue
and served over 700 patients through + Hospitals, the NYC Department these domestic violence shelters is strengthening this partnership and
this initiative since launching in late of Social Services/Human Resources fundamental to ensuring the survi- building on its success,” said Saloni
2022. Residents of participating do- Administration, the Mayor’s Office vors and their children receive the Sethi, Commissioner of NYC Mayor’s
mestic violence shelters are now able to End Domestic and Gender-Based help they need to heal and build a Office to End Domestic and Gen-
to see a mental health specialist with- Violence, and the Mayor’s Office of fresh start. Today we are thrilled to der-Based Violence. “Expanding this
in one week, compared to previously Community Mental Health. announce significantly growing this critical care to 41 domestic violence
waiting six months to one year for an “Increasing access to mental initiative and providing life-changing shelters acknowledges the deep con-
appointment. health services for special popula- mental health support to more do- nection between mental health and
Patient Aisha Wilson also shared tions like survivors of domestic and mestic violence shelter residents.” domestic violence, and ensures survi-
her story about leaving her abusive gender-based violence is one of our “Every survivor in our care has vors and their children receive men-
relationship and moving with her two behavioral health strategic priorities endured a series of deeply destabi- tal health support in an environment
teenage children into one of the City’s systemwide,” said NYC Health + lizing and traumatic experiences that where they feel safe and are already
domestic violence shelters, where she Hospitals System Chief of Behavior- can, without proper treatment and connected to the help they need.”

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