MORRISONVILLE, N.Y. (WCAX) – May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and in Clinton County, a massive expansion is underway at one nonprofit to address the need and rise in services.
Data from the county from 2023 shows there were 13 suicides last year. It is the highest in 10 years, highlighting the need for more help.
Liz Cole, the vice president of operations at Behavioral Health Network North, better known as BHSN, says they have received two grants from the New York State Office of Mental Health that will go toward an expansion of services and staff.
“This opens it up, so even if someone does not have insurance, we will be able to sit with them, work with them on developing insurance, or if they do not have insurance we will work them on what that means and what treatment really does look like,” said Cole.
She says the expansion means the addition of 100 new positions that will focus on mental and behavioral health. Half of that staff will be in Queensbury and the other in Morrisonville.
“Some of the positions that we are going to be adding to our amazing team are nutritionist, health coaches, peers, intervention specialist and so on,” said Cole.
Cole says the new positions are possible because the state will now reimburse the nonprofit the expenses through Medicaid and Medicare.
Richelle Gregory, the director of community services with Clinton County, says the expansion will help build upon a network of mental health care offered in the area.
“I think what we have to do is focus on workforce, we need to grow strategically and grow in a way that supports existing services that the community expects from us,” said Gregory.
Cole believes it will take around three to six months to fill the positions and that BHSN will be holding walk-in interviews on May 22.