NY announces $2M in first responder mental health funding

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Wednesday up to $2 million in funding to expand mental health efforts among military veterans and uniformed personnel. The money will be awarded through the CARES UP initiative, which provides funding for personnel agencies and organizations to advance suicide prevention efforts and wellness programming.

The CARES UP program, which was first launched by the Suicide Prevention Center of New York in 2022, will award $60,000 over two years to each selected personnel agency. Qualifying agencies include law enforcement departments, fire districts, emergency medical services, corrections departments and emergency dispatch agencies.

The money will go towards resources that address the unique needs of each agency, like hosting wellness training, expanding internal peer support resources or purchasing mental health apps for staff and their families. According to a press release from the state, it is common for uniformed personnel to experience cumulative stress and trauma, placing these individuals at greater risk of suicide. 

“CARES UP promotes positive mental wellness and self-care for New Yorkers who risk their own safety to protect our communities,” said Ann Sullivan, the Office of Mental Health commissioner. "This assistance can be lifesaving for individuals encountering on-the-job stress and trauma as they work to process their experiences.” 

These grants will also support veterans’ organizations through the Onward Ops Program, which aims to support service members as they transition back into civilian life after their tour of duty ends. New York veterans have a consistently higher rate of suicide than civilians, according to a press release from the state. 

“As Chair of the Veterans, Homeland Security, and Military Affairs Committee in the New York Senate — and as the wife of an Army veteran — I have witnessed firsthand the immense challenges our veterans face when they return home from deployment,” State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton said. “Governor Hochul’s call to action through this funding is an important step in addressing this crisis." 

The first cohort of CARES UP funding was awarded in 2022. In 2024, CARES UP provided funding for their second cohort, including three EMS squads, five law enforcement agencies, a fire department, a corrections department and three veterans organizations.

Agencies and veterans interested in applying for the next cohort can visit the CARES UP website for materials. Submissions are due on Jan. 31.