A Model Program Unveiled in Corona

To me, Corona was a kingdom somewhere deep in New York City (NYC). As a kid, I listened to Paul Simon croon: “Goodbye to Rosie, the queen of Corona” in his 1972 song “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard.” As I listened dreamily to the song about a place that meant “crown” in Spanish, I imagined a rich, if gritty, place.

Late last month, after living in NYC for more than three decades, I was blessed with having the chance to travel to the kingdom of Corona, in Queens. And indeed, Corona is rich in diversity and gumption. I had been invited to this mythical place by the First Lady of New York City, Ms. Chirlane McCray, for the launching of NYCWell.

It was a brilliant morning made even more brilliant by what I was about to witness. Ms. McCray, the recipient of APA’s 2016 Patient Advocacy Award at IPS: The Mental Health Services Conference earlier last month, was unveiling her ambitious, visionary program to improve mental health access in NYC. A few short weeks before, I had had the pleasure of meeting Ms. McCray, a powerful, courageous, warm leader, at IPS, and presenting her with the award. She bravely talked about the struggles with mental illness, including substance use disorder, in her own family as the impetus for ensuring that all New Yorkers have access to care if they or a loved one is struggling with mental health issues.

This day was the day that her vision was being realized, carefully operationalized in a fantastic program. The notion was that any New Yorker, regardless of insurance, income, or immigration status, would be able to access mental health care by simply making a phone call, starting an Internet chat, or sending a text. The promise: talk to a mental health counselor within 30 seconds of reaching out. Stupendous! The pilot suggested that people would wait even less.

The launch was set at ElmCor, a large nonprofit community-based agency, which serves everybody from pre-schoolers all the way to seniors. Packed into ElmCor’s gym were politicians, journalists, cameramen, photographers, and, yes, psychiatrists. The excitement was palpable. We were led into the room by the First Lady, followed by Deputy Mayor Richard Buery. NYC Health Commissioner Mary Bassett and NYC Executive Deputy Commissioner of the Division of Mental Hygiene Gary Belkin were there, too, naturally.

The meeting was called to order, and the First Lady spoke. Punctuated by applause, she described the features of a program that aims to make mental health care appointments available in a timely fashion, access to mobile crisis teams possible, or simply provide a mental health care counselor to listen to a citizen’s mental health concern. All this is available in English, Spanish, Mandarin, and Cantonese as well as in an additional 200 languages through a translator. Inspirational, really.

The room was abuzz. Waving hands pressed for the opportunity to ask questions. The First Lady answered, with her impressive knowledge, poise, and charisma.

It was a privilege to have the chance to witness the unveiling of a program that is a jewel in the crown of mental health strategies, one that just a decade ago would have been described as mythical—just as mythical as the kingdom of Corona had been in my own mind. ■