NEW YORK CITY—Mayor Eric Adams announced the opening of the 16th school-based mental health clinic at P.S. 35 Franz Siegel Elementary School in the Bronx on March 18.
The clinics provide in-person services to more than 6,000 students in the Bronx and Central Brooklyn. They expand on the five existing mental health clinics that NYC Health + Hospitals, the nation’s largest municipal health care system, operates in the city’s public schools.
In addition to the 16 school clinics, 34 schools have rapid referrals for access to service from NYC Health + Hospitals’ outpatient mental health clinics. This program serves 50 schools and more than 20,000 students in the Bronx and Central Brooklyn.
“These clinics offer individual, family, and group therapy on a face-to-face level, and will enable teachers to get training to ensure students are fully supported,” Adams said. “These are places where our children know they have a support system they can rely on, whether they need a little bit of support, or a lot of care.”
The school clinics are supported by $3.6 million from the city government, $5 million from the NYC Health + Hospitals and other organizations, and $700,000 from the New York State Office of Mental Health.
New York City Public Schools said in a statement that it has dedicated resources to combating students’ social media addiction and its harms, including cyberbullying, anxiety, depression, and online safety education.
“This clinic adds to our growing network of over 200 mental health clinics, primary care services, and partnerships with more than 130 community organizations, all backed by our dedicated team of guidance counselors and social workers,” Public Schools Chancellor Aviles-Ramos said.
“We are committed to fostering an environment where mental health is truly prioritized alongside academic achievement and as a core pillar of student safety and wellbeing.”
In addition to the clinic at Franz Siegel, NYC Health + Hospitals has opened mental health satellite clinics in the following schools:
- Mott Hall III
- Port Morris School of Community Leadership
- PS 063 – Author’s Academy
- PS 277X
- PS X140 The Eagle School
- South Bronx Preparatory
- All City Leadership Secondary School
- Brighter Choice Community School
- The Brooklyn Green School
- Evergreen Middle School for Urban Exploration
- Kappa V: Knowledge and Power Preparatory Academy
- MS K394
- Parkside Preparatory Academy
- PS 041 Francis White
- PS/IS 384 Frances E Carter
School Phone Ban
During the press conference, Adams was asked about the use of phones in schools and their impact on the mental health of students. He said phones should be banned but that any measures to restrict their use require engagement from New Yorkers.“The science is clear that cell phones are really distracting our students, our teachers. It’s adding to bullying, it creates an unhealthy environment,” Adams said. “When you try to force New Yorkers to do something, it’s a whole different mindset. And so if we can get everyone engaged, I think if we educate parents, educate students, educate the teaching population who are already there, I think we have a more natural, organic way to say there’s no place for phones in our schools.”
He noted that some efforts to restrict phone use—such as signal-blocking pouches used in many states—have failed, as students find ways to bypass them.
“So we want to get it right. And it’s our hope to do it, but we have to get it right so we don’t have to reverse it,” he said.
