Highlight of Mental Health Awareness Month: The Proactive Approach of Northwell Health
During Mental Health Awareness Month in May 2025, Northwell Health emerged as a frontline leader in de-stigmatizing and improving care, highlighting the urgent need for easily available mental health support throughout New York. Northwell Health, which serves more than 2 million patients a year and is the largest health system in the state, took advantage of the month to expand its range of services, from crisis intervention to preventive wellness. In keeping with Northwell Health’s patient-centered philosophy, Mental Health Awareness Month 2025, with the theme “My Mental Health, My Way” by Mental Health America, concentrated on individualized journeys. Northwell Health contacted thousands of people through art competitions, community screenings, and virtual webinars, encouraging conversations about depression, anxiety, and resilience throughout the post-pandemic recovery.
The Comprehensive Behavioral Health Framework at Northwell Health
With 23 hospitals, 850 outpatient locations, and specialist facilities like the Zucker Hillside Hospital, which is well-known for its research on schizophrenia, Northwell Health has a strong behavioral health network. Northwell Health promoted its integrated model during Mental Health Awareness Month 2025, which combines social work, psychology, and psychiatry to treat co-occurring disorders like substance abuse. The Behavioral Health College Partnership, which provides free counseling to students, and telehealth expansions that have lowered wait times by 40% since 2024 are important initiatives. As part of this dedication, Northwell Health trains more than 1,000 clinicians a year, guaranteeing that evidence-based treatments like CBT and DBT are available throughout the state. This framework maintains equity in care throughout the year in addition to commemorating Mental Health Awareness Month.
Creative Activities: During Mental Health Awareness Month, Northwell Health Involves Communities
During Mental Health Awareness Month 2025, Northwell Health organized exciting events that turned awareness into action. The “Unleash Your Creativity” art competition, which asked for entries by April 1 for display on 23 campuses and awarded prizes and Amazon gift cards to the winners, was particularly noteworthy. Following the momentum from May, Northwell Health partnered with Hofstra University to co-organize a youth empowerment conference in October, which attracted 500 students from 12 schools for stress management sessions. Experts discussed maternal mental health in virtual panels that connected to NAMI’s June emphasis but were heightened during Mental Health Awareness Month. These campaigns, which were spread through Northwell Health’s social media accounts, received 50,000 interactions, highlighting the system’s contribution to community-based campaigning.
Collaborations and Outreach: Northwell Health Increases the Impact of Mental Health Awareness Month
Northwell Health’s approach to Mental Health Awareness Month is characterized by collaboration, as evidenced by partnerships with organizations like as the Mental Health Association in NYS for policy briefings and the Girl Scouts of Nassau County for symposia on youth resilience. Funds were gathered for community paramedicine in Westchester through the 2025 Northwell Walk, which included mental health exams in mobile units that assist the homeless. Recognized in June 2025, Northwell Health’s Street Medicine Program provides onsite therapy to encampments, removing obstacles for 10,000 marginalized people each year. In order to improve access in a variety of ZIP codes, faith-based and school district collaborations during Mental Health Awareness Month provided 5,000 resource packages, which included 988 hotline cards and self-care manuals.
Innovation and Research: Northwell Health Progresses Goals for Mental Health Awareness Month
With advances in digital medicines, Northwell Health’s Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research spearheaded Mental Health Awareness Month 2025 as a leader in innovation. The May publication of studies on AI chatbots for depression screening revealed 25% better results, which helped guide statewide rollouts. In January 2025, Northwell Health was the first to provide aid to Ukraine, sending pediatric mental health kits and remotely teaching 200 clinicians—a concept that has since been copied at home. By reducing relapse rates by 30%, Northwell Foundation funding—$10 million in 2025—supports VR exposure therapy and schizophrenia trials. These developments establish Northwell Health as a national leader and exemplify the demand for proactive, tech-enabled solutions during Mental Health Awareness Month.
Year-Round Assistance: Northwell Health’s Beyond Mental Health Awareness Month
Although initiatives were sparked by Mental Health Awareness Month 2025, Northwell Health maintains momentum with its Zucker Behavioral Health Center and 24-hour crisis line (1-888-NYC-WELL), which treats 100,000 patients a year. October’s HTC Newsletter, which focused on stigma reduction and featured survivor tales in podcasts, was one of the post-May efforts. Through SAMHSA-aligned toolkits, Northwell Health’s equity focus targets minorities and provides culturally specific groups and programs in Spanish and Mandarin. In line with NYC’s May proclamation for green lighting monuments, 500 organizations have implemented employer wellness programs that include EAPs that cover therapy. This all-encompassing approach promotes resilience throughout the community and sustains the spirit of Mental Health Awareness Month.
International and Local Connections: The Legacy of Northwell Health’s Broader Mental Health Awareness Month
By providing pediatric resources in Ukraine throughout the conflict and educating healthcare professionals in trauma-informed care, Northwell Health expanded Mental Health Awareness Month 2025 internationally. Reach was increased locally by connections with OMH’s calendar, which included May 3 Ithaca walks and Albany children’s events. Northwell Health runners earned $2 million for behavioral health as a TCS NYC Marathon charity partner, and contributors were motivated by tales like Jonathan Valdes’ 100-mile May challenge. These partnerships, which have been approved by the National Health Council, support Northwell Health’s initiative to turn awareness into practical policy.
Looking back, Northwell Health’s diverse approach to Mental Health Awareness Month 2025—from activism to art—is a prime example of transformative care. In addition to commemorating the month, Northwell Health redefines mental wellness for future generations by reiterating its investments in people and innovation, encouraging everyone to put “My Mental Health, My Way” first.
