Our society is finally evolving in its understanding of and approach to mental health issues. State and city governments have recently launched initiatives to remove the stigma of those with mental illness. For example, in November 2015, Mayor Bill de Blasio and First Lady Chirlane McCray launched ThriveNYC. This plan was comprised of over 20 new initiatives related to mental health in New York City, where one in five New Yorkers are reported to have a mental health issue.
On both the local and national level, greater funding has been apportioned for mental health programs and facilities. In July 2015, NYC earmarked $30 million dollars for mental health services for low income New Yorkers. The same year, the state revised the way it organized and funded publicly supported mental health facilities. Yet while society at large has progressed commendably on this issue, one segment of it, the criminal justice system, has been slow to adapt. And New York, regrettably, has been no exception.
