How mental health and health outcomes are “inextricably linked”

Q: Thank you for taking the time to do this interview, Sen. Brouk. These days, conversations around healthcare in Albany focus on hospitals and Medicaid spending. Why is it important that behavioral health and community-based services remain central to those discussions?

State Sen. Samra G. Brouk: Mental health is central to any conversation about a person’s and a population’s overall health. Take maternal health, for example. We are striving in New York to improve maternal health outcomes because we know that more than 70% of pregnancy-related maternal deaths in our state are preventable. But did you know that 1 in 5 pregnant and postpartum women experience a mental health problem – making this the most common complication of pregnancy and childbirth? So you can’t talk about improving maternal health outcomes in a vacuum – you have to also be talking about maternal mental health. This is why I fought so hard for legislation to bring community doula care to our state’s Medicaid program so that birthing people can get access to compassionate, community-based services that give them the physical, emotional, and educational help they need. That’s just one example of how mental health and health outcomes are inextricably linked, and I’m always going to look for those connections in my legislative work. There’s no reason in this country that a conversation about “health” should stop at the neck – what goes on in our heads is an essential component of our overall health.

Q: Do you believe the state is doing enough in prevention and early intervention to reduce long-term costs and improve outcomes?

State Sen. Samra G. Brouk: Mental health is still a crisis in New York State and especially for our young people. Over the years, as I’ve dug into our youth mental health needs, one area of particular concern in my Rochester community – and honestly, across the state – is how we are caring for young people with complex needs. Are we getting them the early intervention and person-centered care they need? That’s why my bill S7978A, which passed both the state Senate and the Assembly this year, is awaiting the governor’s signature and was worked on in partnership with local mental health advocates. This legislation would give the Council on Children and Families the mandate to intervene directly when disputes or delays among agencies threaten a child’s wellbeing. This is an example of taking really intentional steps to rethink our systems to provide better care to young people with complex mental health needs. These efforts are truly an investment in our future – because getting these kids the right care now means we’re helping them grow into more healthy members of our community when they become adults.

Q: Disparities in access to care can be defined by zip code, race, income, language, and other factors. Where has the state made progress, and where do we need to do more work?

State Sen. Samra G. Brouk: One area we need to do more work is expanding the role of peer support services in many aspects of mental health care. Our work on Daniel’s Law, for example, would not be possible without our efforts to very intentionally center the voices of peer advocates every step of the way: The legislation was drafted with the help of peers who had lived experiences with police responses to crisis mental health services; peers sat on our Daniel’s Law Task Force; and the legislation itself mandates the inclusion of compassionate, peer-led care alongside trained behavioral health professionals when responding to mental health crises in New York State. Peer service providers have a unique ability to build trust with the communities they serve, which means a person in crisis is more likely to seek care and get the care they need. When we talk about strengthening our mental health crisis response system, it starts with supporting person-centered care.

Q: What does success for New York’s mental health system look like in the years ahead?

State Sen. Samra G. Brouk: Success for New York’s mental health system will mean better outcomes, reduced wait times for people who need services, having a well-trained mental health workforce that is adequately paid for the critical work they do, and better integration of mental health and health care. I also think it’s important for our success that we focus our effort on getting people the voluntary care they need. You may have seen the Office of Mental Health report that came out this summer reviewing our state’s court-ordered Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) system. The key takeaway – and I mean the key takeaway – from that report was that people recover from mental health and substance use problems because they receive timely access to housing, intensive community support, peer services, and other voluntary services – not because a court orders them into treatment. Voluntary care is the most effective and lasting form of mental health care – and that’s where I’m going to be focusing my efforts: funding programs that provide voluntary care for all New Yorkers so they can make informed decisions about their care.

An interview with New York State Sen. Samra G. Brouk, chair of the Senate Mental Health Committee

By Ralph R. Ortega

Official portrait of New York State Sen. Samra G. Brouk, smiling, in a red jacket in front of an American flag — State Sen. Samra G. Brouk, chair of the Senate Mental Health Committee.

Behavioral health, healthcare access, workforce shortages, and human services funding continue to dominate policy discussions in Albany. As the state implements priorities outlined in the fiscal year 2027 budget, providers across the healthcare and human services sectors are working to understand what new investments mean for their organizations and the people they serve.

State Sen. Samra G. Brouk, chair of the Senate Mental Health Committee, has been closely involved in these types of conversations. She has been a leading advocate for strengthening community-based mental health services, expanding access to care, supporting behavioral health workers, and addressing systemic barriers that have kept New Yorkers from receiving the help they need. She offers a perspective that includes important insight into the state’s priorities and the challenges ahead.

O’Donnell and Associates interviewed Sen. Brouk earlier this month to discuss the state’s fiscal year 2027 budget, the future of behavioral healthcare in New York, and what providers should watch in the months ahead.

Thank you for taking the time to do this interview, Sen. Brouk. These days, conversations around healthcare in Albany focus on hospitals and Medicaid spending. Why is it important that behavioral health and community-based services remain central to those discussions?

Mental health is central to any conversation about a person’s and a population’s overall health. Take maternal health, for example.

We are striving in New York to improve maternal health outcomes because we know that more than 70% of pregnancy-related maternal deaths in our state are preventable. But did you know that 1 in 5 pregnant and postpartum women experience a mental health problem – making this the most common complication of pregnancy and childbirth?

So you can’t talk about improving maternal health outcomes in a vacuum – you have to also be talking about maternal mental health. This is why I fought so hard for legislation to bring community doula care to our state’s Medicaid program so that birthing people can get access to compassionate, community-based services that give them the physical, emotional, and educational help they need.

That’s just one example of how mental health and health outcomes are inextricably linked, and I’m always going to look for those connections in my legislative work. There’s no reason in this country that a conversation about “health” should stop at the neck – what goes on in our heads is an essential component of our overall health.

Do you believe the state is doing enough in prevention and early intervention to reduce long-term costs and improve outcomes?

Mental health is still a crisis in New York State and especially for our young people. Over the years, as I’ve dug into our youth mental health needs, one area of particular concern in my Rochester community – and honestly, across the state – is how we are caring for young people with complex needs. Are we getting them the early intervention and person-centered care they need?

That’s why my bill S7978A, which passed both the state Senate and the Assembly this year, is awaiting the governor’s signature and was worked on in partnership with local mental health advocates.

This legislation would give the Council on Children and Families the mandate to intervene directly when disputes or delays among agencies threaten a child’s wellbeing.

This is an example of taking really intentional steps to rethink our systems to provide better care to young people with complex mental health needs. These efforts are truly an investment in our future – because getting these kids the right care now means we’re helping them grow into more healthy members of our community when they become adults.

Disparities in access to care can be defined by zip code, race, income, language, and other factors. Where has the state made progress, and where do we need to do more work?

One area we need to do more work is expanding the role of peer support services in many aspects of mental health care.

Our work on Daniel’s Law, for example, would not be possible without our efforts to very intentionally center the voices of peer advocates every step of the way: The legislation was drafted with the help of peers who had lived experiences with police responses to crisis mental health services; peers sat on our Daniel’s Law Task Force; and the legislation itself mandates the inclusion of compassionate, peer-led care alongside trained behavioral health professionals when responding to mental health crises in New York State.

Peer service providers have a unique ability to build trust with the communities they serve, which means a person in crisis is more likely to seek care and get the care they need. When we talk about strengthening our mental health crisis response system, it starts with supporting person-centered care.

What does success for New York’s mental health system look like in the years ahead?

Success for New York’s mental health system will mean better outcomes, reduced wait times for people who need services, having a well-trained mental health workforce that is adequately paid for the critical work they do, and better integration of mental health and health care.

I also think it’s important for our success that we focus our effort on getting people the voluntary care they need. You may have seen the Office of Mental Health report that came out this summer reviewing our state’s court-ordered Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) system.

The key takeaway – and I mean the key takeaway – from that report was that people recover from mental health and substance use problems because they receive timely access to housing, intensive community support, peer services, and other voluntary services – not because a court orders them into treatment.

Voluntary care is the most effective and lasting form of mental health care – and that’s where I’m going to be focusing my efforts: funding programs that provide voluntary care for all New Yorkers so they can make informed decisions about their care.

About Ralph R. Ortega

Ralph has been a reporter and editor for several major newspapers and magazines for more than 30 years, and is now vice president of public affairs at O’Donnell & Associates.

Most recently, he was the editor-in-chief of the award-winning City & State NY magazine. At City & State, Ralph managed a team of talented journalists covering the downfall of former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the ascent of current Gov. Kathy Hochul, New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ election campaign and later his administration, as well as the election of Mayor Zohran Mamdani. In his role, Ralph became a well-known player in New York’s political world, emceeing, moderating, and conducting interviews at City & State events. He also wrote a weekly column that focused on policy, transportation, and advocated for greater Latino representation at City Hall and in city government. Read Ralph’s full bio and contact information.