Addressing the Mental Health Needs of New Yorkers During COVID-19

On August 5, 2021, NYHealth hosted a webinar with Lisa Furst, L.M.S.W., M.P.H., Chief Program Officer, Vibrant Emotional Health, and Sophie Wheelock, M.P.H., Policy and Research Associate, NYHealth, to discuss addressing the mental health disparities in New York State during COVID-19.

New York State has made significant progress against the coronavirus pandemic in recent months. But as the State begins to return to life as it once was, many New Yorkers will not. The impact of the pandemic’s loss of life, prolonged economic hardship, and societal upheaval has had—and will continue to have—a profound impact on the mental health of New Yorkers.

A recent report from NYHealth examines rates of anxiety and depression in New York State by race and ethnicity, age, income, food security status, and COVID-19 vaccination status from the start of the pandemic through May 2021, using weekly self-reported survey data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The report contrasts recent improvements in mental health with persistent disparities by race, income, and food scarcity status.

The panelists discussed the report’s findings and provided recommendations on strategies that can be implemented to improve the emotional wellbeing of all New Yorkers.

Watch the webinar recording.