Mental Health Awareness – How Commonpoint Turns Awareness into Action
Commonpoint is proud to offer Mental Health services and resources for community members beginning at age 12. You can learn more about our services by visiting www.commonpoint.org/cape or by calling us at 718-224-0566.
The following entry was written by Juanito Vargas, LCSW, Vice President of Adult Programs at Commonpoint.
As a global pandemic recedes into memory, a sense of normalcy has returned for New Yorkers. However, economic uncertainty, political turmoil and the threat of expanding war abroad has triggered emotional distress for many and exacerbated pre-existing mental health concerns for New Yorkers. Access to mental healthcare remains out of reach for many. According to the Human Resources and Services Administration, 1 in 3 Americans resides in areas lacking mental health workers. The State of Mental Health of New Yorkers report published by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) in 2024 cited that mental health staff to client ratios dropped by almost 25%. And while telehealth has brought mental health services to New Yorkers’ homes, adult New Yorkers 65 and older are more likely to report problems with telehealth as a barrier to care than adults age 18 to 24. For some New Yorkers of color, mental healthcare is out of reach. Compared to White New Yorkers, Black, Hispanic, Asian American and Pacific Islanders are less likely to be connected to mental healthcare in New York City.
Commonpoint realizes that increasing access to mental healthcare is complicated and requires a multifaceted approach. Commonpoint strives to increase access to mental healthcare for all in several ways. Commonpoint has formed a Mental Health Integration unit within its Mental Health Services Division. This unit regularly meets with program leaders across Commonpoint’s programs – including Workforce Services, Youth Education Services, High School and College Success and Older Adult Services – throughout New York City and explores ways to integrate mental health services within existing programming. The goal of the unit is to raise mental health awareness and facilitate access to treatment.
Commonpoint recognizes that some of its community members might not have the time to commit to structured, “traditional” treatment. Also, many of the community members Commonpoint serves do not have the medical insurance or the money to pay for treatment. Commonpoint has increased accessibility to mental health support by making use of several evidence-based and cost-effective interventions. One of those interventions is the Problem Management Plus (PM+) model. The PM+ model was developed by the World Health Organization. Commonpoint received permission from the World Health Organization to use this model in its work and to train its staff members on its use. PM+ is a low intensity mental health intervention that can be used by non-licensed personnel. Initial research into the use of the PM+ model indicates that it is effective in reducing emotional distress. Moreover, the model is useful in helping people transition from less structured mental health support to formal, structured support. Those who are eventually interested in more structured mental health support will find it easier to transition to that level of support after receiving support via this model. Commonpoint staff provide PM+ sessions to community members at no cost to them. Another benefit of the model is that it is short term, requiring little time commitment.
Commonpoint has also increased access to telehealth services to older adults. Commonpoint receives funding from the New York State Office of Mental Health for its Maintaining Safety and Independence through Technology (MIST) program. The goal of this program is to support older adults to age safely in place by connecting them with technology, resources and support. The MIST program has distributed mobile devices to dozens of older adults and instructed them on the use of these devices to connect with loved ones virtually and engage in telehealth services. Finally, Commonpoint’s Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee views the entirety of all of Commonpoint’s services, including its mental health services, and asks “are we ensuring equal access to these services for all.” Commonpoint trains its staff to acknowledge the continued mental health inequity faced by many New Yorkers and how to support them through validation, advocacy and supportive counseling.
Mental health resources are scarce, but the need for those resources has continued to increase. Commonpoint is implementing successful and cost-effective approaches to make mental health support more available to its community members. Commonpoint joins New Yorkers celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month and does so with optimism and a sense of commitment to continue to ensure equitable access to mental healthcare for the community members it serves.
