As Largest Provider of Behavioral Health Services in NYC, Health + Hospitals Will Offer $30,000 to $50,000 in Debt Relief to Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Nurse Practitioners, and Social Workers Who Commit to Serve for Three Years. New Yorkers Can Support Effort Through Donations as Program Expands.
NEW YORK – Mayor Eric Adams and NYC Health + Hospitals announced the launch of a new student loan forgiveness program for behavioral health providers, funded by a $1 million contribution from an anonymous donor. The new program is designed to help attract and retain doctors, nurse practitioners, and other clinicians who care for New Yorkers with mental health or substance use needs as the U.S. faces a national mental health professional shortage. NYC Health + Hospitals will offer psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, psychologists, and licensed clinical social workers between $30,000 and $50,000 of debt relief in exchange for a three-year commitment to serve the public health system.
NYC Health + Hospitals provides about half of all behavioral health services for children and adults in New York City. The loan forgiveness program will be available to eligible employees and new hires for the next year or until the $1 million donation has been distributed. Applications open tomorrow, Monday, July 25, 2022, and New Yorkers can support this effort by donating directly to NYC Health and Hospitals.
"The behavioral health professionals in our public health system work tirelessly to support the most vulnerable New Yorkers living with mental illness and alcohol and substance use disorders," said Mayor Adams. "Too often, these health care workers graduate with crippling debt and have no choice but to work in the private sector to pay off their bills. Especially at a time when the nation is facing a shortage of these lifesaving practitioners, and simultaneously facing an increased need for these professional due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this loan forgiveness program will help us attract and retain top talent to continue serving New Yorkers across the city. I'm grateful to the anonymous donor for this generous donation, and I encourage other businesses and individuals to chip in if they are able to support this important cause."
"As we continue to see an increasing number of New Yorkers struggling with mental health and substance use disorder, the essential services of our behavioral health team are needed more than ever," said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD. "This donation will allow us to recruit and retain extraordinary clinicians to help address the ongoing mental health crisis."
"This loan forgiveness program is a great way to invest in our mental health workforce," said Dr. Charles Barron, deputy chief medical officer, Office of Behavioral Health, NYC Health + Hospitals. "With less debt to worry about, our mental health teams can focus on doing what they do best: providing high-quality mental health support to New Yorkers."
Early-career psychiatrists have on average $190,000 of medical school debt, psychiatric nurse practitioners have on average $56,000 of debt, social workers have on average $68,000 of debt, and psychologists have on average $80,000 of debt.
As part of the largest municipal health care system in the nation, NYC Health + Hospitals' public hospitals and neighborhood health centers offer a wide variety of excellent mental health services to foster recovery from mental illness of all kinds. Additionally, NYC Health + Hospitals provides the highest-quality alcohol and substance use recovery programs as part of its behavioral and mental health services, with personalized, caring treatment plans that are effective for each patient.
New Yorkers who need support for mental health or substance use can call 844-NYC-4NYC for an appointment at NYC Health + Hospitals or contact NYC Well online.
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