John B. King, president of the State University of New York, speaks at the dedication ceremony for Empire State University. (Media News Group file photo)
ALBANY, N.Y. — State University of New York (SUNY) President John B. King Jr. announces the opening of applications for the SUNY/Office of Mental Health (OMH) Scholarship Program.
Established in August 2022 by Governor Kathy Hochul with $4 million in federal investment, the program will support students in mental health degree programs by providing scholarships, paid internships, and tuition for graduate school applicants. We offer exemptions and more. This will focus on serving populations who may have historically lacked quality mental health, and will have the potential to positively impact the quality of mental health care for all New York State residents. Attract, retain, and graduate students trained in a variety of mental health professions. Care.
“The stigma surrounding mental health has decreased in recent years, and as a result, more Americans, including SUNY students, are seeking care. The mental health field is predicted to grow significantly by 2032. We must prepare a workforce of better and more diverse professionals,” King said in a news release. “Students are more likely to seek mental health services when they encounter a diverse community of practitioners from diverse backgrounds. This scholarship will help make it easier for everyone to earn a mental health degree.” , we are committed to addressing this issue. We are grateful for Governor Hochul’s continued support and the work of our partners at the Department of Mental Health as we increase the number of mental health professionals in New York State.”
Students can apply for the scholarship at https://www.suny.edu/diversity/mentalhealth-scholarship/.
To be eligible for the scholarship, students must:
・Major in the field of mental health leading to a career as a mental health professional
· Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident;
· Be a resident of New York State
・Have good academic performance (cumulative grade average of 2.5 points or higher)
· Maintain full-time student status in the Mental Health Career major
・Must be 2nd year undergraduate student or above, 1st year graduate school student or above
The scholarship provides tuition, room, board, and fees for up to three years. Undergraduate scholarships are up to $9,000 per year and graduate scholarships are up to $15,000 per year, depending on need. We encourage students from all backgrounds to apply. Preference will be given to candidates from low-income families, first-generation college students, veterans, AmeriCorps graduates, students who have overcome adversity, and bilingual/multilingual students.
As part of the program, SUNY collaborates with the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) to reach all New York State residents by addressing the barriers and needs of historically underserved populations. Improving the quality of mental health care for residents. mental health services, including a shortage of bilingual/multilingual clinicians; Greater access to a diverse workforce increases patient/client satisfaction, engagement, and retention in care. In addition to the scholarship program, SUNY regularly invests nearly $10 million each year from his 2023-24 budget to help state-run campuses expand mental health services to students.
“OMH is excited to continue our partnership with CUNY and SUNY to close the gap in mental health care and expand our scholarship programs. We have learned so much from our students, advisors, and mentors. This scholarship and partnership is a testament to OMH’s dedication to supporting individuals pursuing careers in the mental health field and increasing diversity in the public mental health workforce. “The State University of New York and the State University of New York Mental Health Scholarship Program are critical elements of our mission to recruit and retain a more diverse and inclusive workforce,” said OMH Secretary. said Dr. Anne Sullivan in the release.
