A big moment for youth mental health in New York
At today’s press conference in Western New York, Governor Kathy Hochul announced a nation-leading commitment to expand Teen Mental Health First Aid – with the goal of making training available to every 10th grader statewide as part of her 2026 State of the State.
Since the start of this initiative, the Mental Health Association in New York State (MHANYS), both directly and through our partner sites across the state, have trained 4,845 teens in Teen MHFA and more than 3,000 adults in Youth MHFA. According to the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, New York has experienced a 540% increase in teens certified, underscoring the rapid growth and statewide momentum of this mental health literacy work.
Pictured here following the announcement is Glenn Liebman as MHANYS continues its role as a key implementation partner, bringing Teen and Youth MHFA to schools and communities across New York State.
New York is leading – and this work is just getting started.
