Staten Island blueprint for tackling mental health crisis among youth is unveiled [Video]

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — In an effort to tackle the mental health crisis among youth, a new first-of-its-kind blueprint has been unveiled to help identify and support Staten Island children and young adults.

Borough President Vito Fossella, government health officials, school leaders and local partners in health care unveiled the plan, titled the Behavioral Health Blueprint for Staten Island Children and Young Adults, on Thursday during a press conference at the College of Staten Island (CSI) in Willowbrook. It aims support children and young adults from pre-K through 24 years old.

Fossella noted that the effort began in December 2022, when mental health among young people was named a priority. A task force was created to form a blueprint that would be customized just for Staten Island.

“It’s a community-based, school-based, primary care-centered approach to ensure that every child on Staten Island who may show signs of behavioral problems or …