State Aims to Reinstate Hundreds of Psychiatric Beds Shifted During Pandemic

*Reposted by Gotham Gazette. Written by Ethan Geringer-Sameth  (photo: Kevin P. Coughlin/Governor's Office)*

New York State is looking to reinstate all of the roughly 400 beds in the state's inpatient psychiatric system that were converted to medical beds at the start of the pandemic two years ago. But there is a long road to restore them despite mounting pressure from elected officials, representatives of the state Office of Mental Health (OMH) told lawmakers at a joint state legislative budget hearing Monday.

"Across the state there have been hundreds of beds that closed or migrated due to covid," OMH Commissioner Anne Marie Sullivan told members of the State Assembly and Senate. "We are looking to reopen all those beds," she said, adding that her agency was also looking for services "that could make the difference."

"We are really pushing to make sure those beds come back on line," she said.

But the ongoing pandemic continues to put stress on hospitals, particularly in upstate New York, making the timeline for reinstituting the psychiatric beds unclear. The beds allow for long-term commitment, whether voluntary or involuntary, for psychiatric treatment for the most severe mental illnesses, like schizophrenia.

"It's critical that those beds come back up and that they are available for individuals. Now many of the hospitals are saying they will be putting them back up but the time lag is significant," Sullivan told members of the Legislature's finance and mental health committees at the virtual hearing, one of the series of annual budget hearings being conducted by lawmakers.

For full article visit: https://www.gothamgazette.com/state/11085-mental-illness-health-psychia…