Thanks to the Office of Mental Health for creating a video for people signing off on the mental health tax check off while doing their state income tax. It has raised almost $400,000 over the last several years for public awareness of mental health in New York. The link for the video is attached below.
This was an important advocacy victory for our community. Prior to the checkoff, there was no ability to give funding for mental health causes in State income tax. It created parity with Breast Cancer Awareness, Alzheimer’s, Diabetes, and other worthy causes. To this day, we thank Assembly Mental Health Chair, Gunther, Senate Minority Leader (formerly Mental Hygiene Chair), Ortt, and former Senator David Carlucci for their role in making this law happen in 2016.
Here’s the link on YouTube, and we’ll soon have it up on our social media platforms as well:
https://youtu.be/4VJFKpZnHI4
Here’s the description we’re using to promote the fund:
The New York State Mental Illness Anti-Stigma tax check-off program was launched in 2016 and allows NYS taxpayers to easily contribute to and help fund anti-stigma activities across the state when filing their NYS taxes. Contributions to the fund are used by the NYS Office of Mental Health to provide grants to organizations that are focused on educating New Yorkers about mental illness and addressing the stigma often associated with mental illness. Eligible activities include but are not limited to targeted messaging and advertising, production of printed materials, speakers, training, engaging with individuals with lived experience, and multimedia productions
