The city is launching a new program at select H+H hospitals in Queens and the Bronx, aimed at supporting young people as they recover from attempted suicide.
The program, called Caring Transitions, will engage youth who come into hospitals for suicide attempts or suicidal behavior — and remain working with them for the next three months after discharge. Caring Transitions is funded through Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and will operate within Bronx H+H Lincoln, Jacobi and North Central Bronx hospitals, as well as Elmhurst Hospital in Queens.
In announcing the new program, the city cited research showing that risks for repeat suicide attempts are especially high in the period immediately following release from a hospital, so the program will connect youth with a social worker, psychologist and peer and family advocates for ongoing treatment.
“Increasing connections to care will help lower that burden so families can focus on what matters most — supporting the young people who need them and making space to heal,” said DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan in a statement announcing the program.
The American Psychological Association recently reported an alarming trend: More than 20% of teens — especially Black and brown youth and those in the LGBTQ+ community — have seriously contemplated taking their own life. Suicide is now the second-leading cause of death in the U.S. for youth ages 10 to 24, according to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) research.
Even among those who have not attempted suicide, the state of teen mental health is trending in a bad direction — and New Yorkers are no exception.
The city-issued report The State of Mental Health of New Yorkers indicated that between 2011 and 2021, the percentage of teens who said they felt persistent sadness and hopelessness increased from 27% to 38%. Girls reported significantly higher rates than boys, and in 2021, Black and Latino youth were more likely to report negative feelings than their white peers.
The city has aggressively tackled social media as a major contributing factor to teens’ poor mental health. A 2023 special report found that 90% of teens who use social media daily reported frequent worrying and 56% reported at least some depressive symptoms. Gov. Kathy Hocul recently signed legislation to restrict addictive algorithm-based social media feeds for youth under 18.
Call the Suicide and Crisis lifeline at 988 if you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis, or call 911 for emergency situations. NYC teens can also receive free mental health support from a therapist at NYC Teenspace.
Reach Emily Swanson at eswanson@schnepsmedia.com or (646) 717-0015. For more coverage, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @bronxtimes
