NYHealth Senior Program Officer Derek Coy gave the following testimony on November 12, 2025, New York State Public Hearing on Increasing Veterans’ Access to Mental Health Services.
Thank you, Chairperson Stern, Chairperson Simon, Chairperson Hunter, and members of the Committees, for the opportunity to testify on increasing veterans’ access to mental health services in New York State. I am pleased to testify on behalf of the New York Health Foundation (NYHealth), a private, independent, statewide foundation dedicated to improving the health of all New Yorkers—including the more than 580,000 veterans who call New York State home. I am also a proud veteran, having served as a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps.
For more than 15 years, NYHealth has worked to advance veterans’ health through grantmaking, policy analysis, advocacy, and convenings. Our efforts have identified service gaps, elevated innovative community-based models, and supported programs that meet veterans where they are. We have partnered closely with State agencies and other stakeholders to ensure New York’s veterans receive high-quality, culturally competent mental health care and support. We appreciate that the Committees have highlighted the RAND Corporation’s veterans’ needs assessment—commissioned by NYHealth—as part of today’s hearing.
Today, veterans’ mental health services face growing strain because of the federal H.R.1 budget law and the ongoing government shutdown. While philanthropy cannot replace federal funding, NYHealth is working with grantees, partners, and State policymakers to mitigate the impact. In the face of these challenges, New York State must redouble its efforts to protect and expand effective services for veterans’ mental health.
Veterans’ Mental Health Needs
At the launch of our Veterans’ Health initiative in 2009, NYHealth commissioned RAND to conduct The Needs Assessment of Returning Veterans and Families in New York State, published in 2011. The report examined the needs of returning Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans and their families and found that 16% of veterans had a probable diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and 26% had probable PTSD and/or depression. Yet only 13% of veterans reported receiving minimally adequate treatment. Barriers included both logistical and cultural factors: nearly one in five (19%) cited cost, and more than one-third (35%) worried that seeking help could harm their careers. [1]
Informed by these findings, NYHealth has invested in expanding access to high-quality mental health care through a statewide network of partners offering counseling, peer support, and referrals. We have partnered with the Headstrong Project and the Military Family Center (MFC) at NYU Langone Health to increase access to tele-mental health services for veterans and families, particularly in rural and underserved areas. [2] Both organizations offer in-person and online visits that provide high-quality, trauma-informed treatment at no cost, regardless of location.
To build on this work, NYHealth again partnered with RAND in 2024 to update its landmark assessment—the first comprehensive review of New York veterans’ health and social service needs in 14 years. Key findings include:
- More than 60% of new veterans now report having a disability—double the rate from the previous assessment.
- The share of veterans with probable PTSD has increased (26% vs. 16%).
- Nearly one-third (33%) report PTSD and/or depression; almost one in ten (9%) reported suicidal thoughts in the past year.
- One in five (21%) veterans report unmet mental health needs, citing barriers to access, concerns about treatment effectiveness, and stigma. [3] Twenty-five percent don’t know where to find care, and 40% doubt the effectiveness of services.
These findings underscore the persistent and complex barriers veterans face in accessing mental health care.
The changing federal landscape, including the ongoing government shutdown, adds complexity and strain. Threats to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) services increases veterans’ uncertainty about available benefits and services. The Committee should also consider how veterans’ mental health needs have been exacerbated by the continuing shortages of mental health providers at the VA. Our partners at the Headstrong Project and MFC report seeing record high numbers of patients; they cannot fill the gaps of care left by VA staffing shortages. Furthermore, the impending cuts to Medicaid will negatively affect veterans’ access to mental health care, as 15% of veterans in New York State use the program, often as an additional source of insurance. More than half of veterans enrolled in Medicaid are age 65 and over, who may also need help managing chronic conditions, long-term care, and covering out-of-pocket costs. [4]
The Ongoing Challenge of Veteran Suicide
Recognizing the link between mental health and suicide prevention, NYHealth has made this a core focus of our research and grantmaking. . Our annual report on veteran suicide in New York State shows that as of 2022, the veteran suicide rate has remained stubbornly high for more than a decade—nearly twice that of civilians. Suicide rates rose across all demographic groups in 2022 compared to 2017, with firearms remaining the most common and lethal method, used in more than 55% of veteran suicides. [5]
Mental health challenges—including PTSD, suicidal ideation, and substance use—also contribute to poor outcomes for veterans. For example, according to NYHealth’s own data analysis.[6] From 2012–2021, veterans in New York City had a 2.5 times higher rate of “deaths of despair”—including suicide and alcohol- and drug-related deaths—than civilians. Younger veterans (ages 18–34) had the highest suicide rates, while those ages 55–64 had the highest rates of deaths of despair. Black and Hispanic veterans in the Bronx were disproportionately affected. These figures represent real people, families, and communities struggling to access the support they have earned.
Considering their ongoing mental health needs, we urge the State to consider the following recommended approaches to support veterans:
Expand and Embed Suicide Prevention Across Mental Health and Social Service Programs
Suicide prevention should be integrated into all health and social service settings where veterans seek care, including primary care, behavioral health, housing, and benefits programs. Evidence-based tools such as the Columbia Protocol can help identify suicide risk early and connect veterans to care. [7]
The State should explore ways to expand other promising models. NYHealth partners like Stop Soldier Suicide have developed innovative approaches to identify, stabilize, and provide emergency mental health support for veterans in crisis, serving hundreds across New York since 2020. We also support the Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM) training model, which trains providers and community members on suicide prevention. Adaptations of CALM and the website WorriedAboutAVeteran.org have expanded these tools to nonclinical audiences statewide.
New York State also played a leading role in the federal Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Veteran Suicide, establishing a strong foundation for coordination and partnerships. There is now an opportunity to renew and expand this effort.
Expand Peer Mentorship for Mental Health
Peer-to-peer support is a proven, cost-effective model that reduces isolation, strengthens social connection, and links veterans to care. NYHealth has long supported peer programs such as the PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program (Dwyer Program) and Onward Ops, which provide emotional and practical assistance to veterans, families, and caregivers.
Additionally, we have championed the expansion of Veteran Treatment Courts (VTCs) throughout New York State. These problem-solving courts divert veterans with mental health or substance use issues who have committed non-violent crimes from incarceration; they provide treatment-oriented solutions and community-based resources. The “secret sauce” of VTCs’ success has been its robust peer mentorship program.[8]
As peers are on the frontline of mental health and suicide prevention efforts, they need more funding, tools, and resources. To sustain and scale these efforts, New York State should increase investment in peer mentorship—particularly within the Dwyer Program, Onward Ops, and VTCs—and ensure diverse representation and training.
Expand Telemental Health Services
New York State should expand telemental health efforts for veterans to help mitigate barriers to care. Telemental health services expanded significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic and can increase access to mental health services for underserved populations. Veterans in more rural areas can particularly struggle with accessing mental health services because of their remote location and other barriers to care.[9]
NYHealth-supported partners such as Headstrong and MFC demonstrate the success of providing cost-free, virtual mental health care statewide. Expanding telemental health offerings and reducing out-of-pocket costs should remain a priority.
New York State can also play a role in dispelling misinformation on issues like perceived ineffectiveness of mental health treatment as well as addressing stigma about receiving mental health care. In addition, the State can partner with the VA to help veterans understand their options and access care for which they are eligible, including mental health care.
Invest in Robust, Timely, and Transparent Data
New York State should support research and data collection efforts on veterans at a local level. City and State agencies can make available and leverage relevant local data to aid government and nonprofit organizations in their service delivery and evaluation efforts at relatively little cost. More precise and regular publications of data will inform policy development and service outreach.
NYHealth is committed to partnering on these efforts, but our most recent RAND needs assessment report is already outdated by a year and the suicide data we use for our reports lags by multiple years. Release and publication of more timely data must be a priority at the State-level. Future efforts should also ensure data are disaggregated by age, race, ethnicity, and borough to inform tailored programs better and address disparities in veteran outcomes.
In 2021, New York State acknowledged the importance of veteran suicide data when the Legislature passed Bill S2036/A3237-A, requiring the New York State Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS) to collect and report annual data on veteran suicides.[10] The first report was due by June 13, 2024, yet no report has been released as of today. Without timely, accurate data, policymakers and advocates are hampered in their ability to direct resources effectively and save lives.
Conclusion
Thank you again for the opportunity to testify. NYHealth is committed to supporting New York State’s work to improve veterans’ access to mental health services. It is paramount that they include suicide prevention focused efforts. As the federal government retreats from providing necessary health care and social services, New York State must step up.
We encourage the Committee Members to regard us as a resource and partner as these efforts develop. You can learn about our veterans’ health work and more by visiting our website, www.nyhealthfoundation.org. If you have any questions or would like to discuss further, please reach out to me at coy@nyhealthfoundation.org. Together, we can ensure that New York State veterans receive the support, care, and opportunities they need to thrive.
References
[1] NYHealth, “The Needs of New York State’s Returning Veterans and Their Families,” (2011), accessed October 29, 2025. https://nyhealthfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/new-york-state-returning-veterans-issue-brief-january-2011.pdf
[2] NYHealth, “The Headstrong Project,” (2024), accessed 29 October 2025. https://nyhealthfoundation.org/grantee/the-headstrong-project/
[3] NYHealth, “Understanding Veterans in New York: A Needs Assessment of Veterans Recently Separated from the Military,” (2024), accessed October 29, 2025. https://nyhealthfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/RAND_Understanding-Veterans-in-New-York.pdf
[4] New York Health Foundation, Medicaid and New York’s Veterans, (2025), accessed October 16, 2025. https://nyhealthfoundation.org/resource/fact-sheet-medicaid-and-new-yorks-veterans/
[5] NYHealth, “Data Snapshot: Veteran Suicide in New York State (2022 Update),” (2025), accessed 30 October 2025. Available at: https://nyhealthfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Data-Snapshot-Veteran-Suicide-in-NYS-2022-Update_.pdf
[6] Cobbs, E. Coy, D. Ford, MM. Havusha, A. Sandman, D. “Navigating the Crisis: Deaths of Despair and Suicide Among New York City Veterans” New York Health Foundation. (2024). Available at: https://nyhealthfoundation.org/resource/nyc-deaths-of-despair-suicide/.
[7] Posner, K. Brent, D. Lucas, C. Gould, M. Stanley, B. Brown, G. Fisher, P. Zelazny, J. Burke, A. Oquendo, M. and Mann, J. J. Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), Version 6/23/10. New York: Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc., 2008. Accessed November 6, 2025. https://cssrs.columbia.edu/wp-content/uploads/C-SSRS_Pediatric-SLC_11.14.16.pdf.
[8] Coy, D. Cobbs, E. Ford, MM. Havusha, A. Sandman, D. “Veterans Treatment Courts in New York State: Past and Future.” (2024). New York Health Foundation. Available at: https://nyhealthfoundation.org/resource/veterans-treatment-courts-in-new-york-state-past-and-future.
[9] Harris B, Gallant K, Mariani A. . Mental Health in Rural New York: Findings and Recommendations from a Rural Mental Health Listening Tour with Residents and Professionals. NORC at the University of Chicago NORC Working Paper Series, 2023. Available at: https://www.sbirteducation.com/_files/ugd/e278f7_45417d63154f40139965b09ff6e7a7cf.pdf
[10] New York State Senate. S. 2036, 2021–2022 Regular Session. An Act to amend the County Law and the Executive Law, in relation to the reporting of a veteran’s suicide. Introduced January 19, 2021. Accessed October 30, 2025. https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2021/S2036/amendment/original
