ThriveNYC could help treat and destigmatize mental, behavioral disorders

Ms. McCray’s roadmap is a bold experiment that could be the start of fundamental changes to the landscape for people with mental illness – not only in New York. It also could prove to be a national blueprint. One of its greatest strengths is its potential to help destigmatize mental illness and truly bring mental health care into the mainstream of health care delivery. Implementing the roadmap slowly and with a small group of people, however, would give it the best chance of success.

Those of us who advocate on behalf of people with mental illness, including the American Psychiatric Association, should take a look at what’s going on in New York City and see how we can help. In fact, perhaps the APA should call on Ms. McCray as a keynote speaker. In the meantime, we’ll find out more when ThriveNYC holds a workforce summit that Ms. McCray told me will be held to discuss some of these issues.

Dr. London is a psychiatrist who trained at NYU Langone Medical Center and Bellevue Hospital, both in New York, and developed and ran a short-term psychotherapy program at the medical center from 1975 through 1995. He has been a newspaper columnist for more than 30 years. He has no conflicts of interest.