New York -UNS :New York State is strengthening its mental health safety net for children and adolescents with a $5 million investment in the Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP) at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue.
The funding will support improvements to Bellevue’s pediatric psychiatric emergency services, helping create a safer, more therapeutic environment for young people experiencing mental health crises.
The initiative is part of New York’s broader effort to expand and modernize adult and pediatric CPEP services across the state.
Supporters say the investment is particularly important as mental health challenges among young people continue to require timely and accessible emergency care.
CPEP facilities provide critical services to New Yorkers experiencing psychiatric emergencies, offering immediate assessment, stabilization and connections to ongoing treatment.
New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Senator Cordell Cleare Gonzalez highlighted Bellevue’s role in addressing mental health-related emergencies and preventing young people from facing these challenges without support.
They also credited Bellevue medical professionals and hospital leadership for their partnership in securing the funding.
Bellevue CEO Eric Wei, MD, MBA, said the hospital has served New Yorkers during vulnerable moments for nearly three centuries.
He emphasized that the investment will allow Bellevue to improve its facilities while expanding its ability to care for children and adolescents from across New York City.
Hospital officials expressed gratitude to state lawmakers, saying the funding will strengthen Bellevue’s behavioral health services and help build a stronger safety net for the next generation.
