LinkNYC, NYS Assembly Member Chandler-Waterman, AD 58 Mental Health Taskforce, and the New York State Office of Mental Health partner to promote mental health resources across New York City from December 14 to 21
Earlier this year, LinkNYC integrated a dedicated dialer for the 988 National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline on all LinkNYC kiosks and Link5G smart poles
Click HERE for pictures & B-roll of the first “Get Linked” mental health resources awareness event
New York, New York – LinkNYC, the public-private partnership that created the world’s largest and fastest free public Wi-Fi network in New York City, today announced a partnership with Assembly Member Monique Chandler-Waterman, the New York State Office of Mental Health, and Members of the New York State Assembly and Senate from across the five boroughs to connect New Yorkers with free mental health services and resources. The “Get Linked” campaign will include a week-long series of events at LinkNYC kiosks and Link5G smart poles, highlighting how anyone can use LinkNYC’s telecommunications infrastructure to access the 988 National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 24/7.
“Earlier this year, I worked with the Assembly District 58 Mental Health Taskforce to develop the idea of promoting the 988 Mental Health Crisis Hotline on LinkNYC kiosks. We wanted to ensure that this promotion was ahead of winter and the impact of seasonal depression on our fellow New Yorkers. I am proud to see this idea come to fruition and spread the news of this critical resource in communities across the five boroughs,” said Assemblymember Monique Chandler-Waterman. “In Brooklyn and throughout the city, I want to ensure that everyone knows that if they need help, resources are available in your community. Depression and crisis do not discriminate, and I want to thank my colleagues and LinkNYC for raising awareness about mental health and ensuring everyone has access to the support they need.”
“LinkNYC’s mission is to ensure New Yorkers stay connected—not just to high-speed broadband, but also to community resources,” said Nick Colvin, LinkNYC CEO. “We’re proud to serve our neighbors by providing an easy and reliable way to access life-saving mental health services, no matter where they live. 988 is now just a tap away for anyone in our city who needs help with a mental health condition.”
In response to the heightened stress and mental health challenges often experienced by New Yorkers throughout the holiday season, nine Assembly Members and Senators are ‘adopting’ LinkNYC kiosks and Link5G smart poles in their community during this week-long campaign. During the week of action, the Assembly Members, Senators, and their staff will host informational canvasses at these LinkNYC locations, informing community members about LinkNYC’s partnership with 988, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, and sharing crucial information about other mental health resources accessible to all New Yorkers.
“LinkNYC kiosks serve a vital function as a free information source for countless New Yorkers each year on everything from community events to real-time transit and weather updates,” said New York City Chief Technology Officer Matthew Fraser. “I thank LinkNYC and our state elected officials for using their collective platforms to raise mental health awareness this holiday season.”
“New Yorkers should have seamless access to mental healthcare and support, wherever they are and regardless of their personal resources,” said Dr. Ann Sullivan, Commissioner of the New York State Office of Mental Health. “LinkNYC’s partnership with the 988 Lifeline ensures New York City residents and visitors alike have a direct line to crisis intervention support anywhere in the five boroughs. We are proud to support this partnership and the effort to ensure all New Yorkers are aware of this critical resource.”
As part of their week of action, Assembly Members and Senators will also survey New Yorkers to gauge the community’s awareness of the diverse array of support they can access through LinkNYC kiosks and Link5G smart poles, including connections to local mental health clinics, information on nearby food pantries, and information about homeless shelters.
The first event was hosted on Thursday, December 14, 2023, in Brooklyn. At this event, the Link5G smart pole at Utica Avenue and Crown Street served as a base for Assemblymember Monique Chandler-Waterman, Assemblymember Brian Cunningham, and the office of Senator Zellnor Myrie to host their informational canvass and inform New Yorkers about mental health resources.
Future events in the coming days will include:
- Friday, December 15 at 10:00 am: 271 East 161st Street in the Bronx (Corner of Morris Ave) with Assemblymember Chantel Jackson (Point of Contact: Dorcia Williams, williamsd@nyassembly.gov)
- Saturday, December 16 at 1:00 pm: 153-21 Rockaway Blvd in Queens with Assemblymember Khaleel Anderson (Point of Contact: William Bao, baow@nyassembly.gov)
- Monday, December 18 at 11:00 am: Fulton St. and Marcy Ave in Brooklyn with Assemblymember Stefani Zinerman. (Point of Contact: Donna-Marie Dussek, dussekd@nyassembly.gov)
For additional event options, contact amorgan@skdknick.com.
“We have to stand up for our most vulnerable community members. We can do this by educating our communities about mental health and mental health resources,” said R. Eric Waterman, Founder/Executive Director of East Flatbush Village, Inc. “Earlier this year, the New York State Assembly District 58 Mental Health Task Force partnered with LinkNYC to roll out the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline button and advertisements on over 2,000 LinkNYC kiosk throughout New York City. We’re now building on that effort and raising awareness of these services via direct, on-the-ground outreach to our neighbors during the holiday season, when many of our fellow New Yorkers struggle with stress, anxiety, and other mental health challenges.”
“Mental health is a pervasive issue in New York, with one-in-five New Yorkers struggling with mental health issues or symptoms of a mental illness every year. Thousands of our neighbors, however, are not connected to care, especially our young people,” said Assemblymember Khaleel Anderson. “The partnership between LinkNYC, the 988 Lifeline, and my colleagues in the Assembly represents a real, tangible step forward in ensuring that young people and all New Yorkers have access to the resources they need to thrive. I am proud to join this mental health week of action and promote these important resources to my constituents in Queens.”
“New Yorkers from every community can struggle with mental health issues, but support and resources are severely lacking in underserved communities. That’s why I am proud to partner with LinkNYC, the 988 Lifeline and my colleagues in the Assembly to ensure every community has access to mental health interventions,” said Assemblymember Brian Cunningham. “Partnerships like this are critical to the wellbeing of our communities, and I thank Assemblymember Chandler-Waterman for helping bring the resources together to serve our neighbors.”
“Mental health issues can impact anyone, and it’s critical that we make sure every neighborhood has the resources to support those in need — especially families and younger New Yorkers,” said Assemblymember Charles Fall. “I commend Assemblymember Chandler-Waterman for recognizing this crucial need and organizing LinkNYC, the 988 Lifeline, and our colleagues from across the city to take action. Just as seasonal depression sets in and the stress of the holidays increase, we are making sure underserved New Yorkers struggling with mental health issues have a beacon of hope to access the resources they need.”
“Statistics reveal a stark reality: twenty percent of New Yorkers grapple with mental illness annually— to put that in perspective, that’s almost the entire population of Manhattan itself,” said Assemblymember Al Taylor. “This partnership with LinkNYC, the 988 Lifeline, and the Assembly is not just acknowledging the mental health crisis, but taking action to find a solution. I’m proud to champion this critical lifeline for our community, and thank Assemblymember Chandler-Waterman for helping organize resources across the five boroughs.”
“The United States is facing an unprecedented mental healthcare crisis and the Big Apple is not immune,” said Assemblymember Chantel Jackson. “If we want to address this emergency, every sector — government, private businesses, and nonprofits — must come together and provide the support our neighbors need. That’s why I am so grateful to LinkNYC for partnering with the 988 Lifeline and my colleagues in the Assembly to ensure all New Yorkers have access to the resources they need and deserve, especially during the stressful winter months.”
“In Brooklyn and across the city, too many New Yorkers struggle with mental illness and mental health concerns alone,” said Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest. “This holiday season, we are taking to the streets and making sure everyone knows they do not have to suffer in silence — and partnering with LinkNYC and the 988 Lifeline to provide resources directly in our communities. I want to thank our partners and especially Assemblymember Chandler-Waterman for making this support available to my constituents.”
“For many of our neighbors, the holidays can be an especially stressful time — and we all have an obligation to provide support for our fellow New Yorkers,” said Assemblymember Clyde Vanel. “Technology has shown an immense power to connect people with the resources they need, and I am proud to see New York is leveraging tech infrastructure to help address our mental health crisis. I want to thank my colleagues in the Assembly, LinkNYC, and the 988 Lifeline for launching this incredible partnership, and look forward to helping my constituents connect with the support they deserve.”
“Ensuring easy access to mental health support, especially during crises, is crucial for community
wellbeing. The integration of a citywide suicide and the 988-crisis hotline with LinkNYC kiosks across New York City provides seamless access to a vital service needed in our community. We are able to provide mental health services tailored to the disabled, our youth, pregnant women, and specific ethnic groups, and this allows for a more compassionate and responsive environment and lifeline in moments of need,” said Assemblymember Stefani Zinerman. “I want to applaud the collaboration between LinkNYC, the 988 Lifeline, Senator Brouk, and Assemblymember Chandler-Waterman for ensuring every LinkNYC kiosk is a beacon of hope.”
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About LinkNYC
LinkNYC is the world’s largest and fastest free public Wi-Fi network. Each Link kiosk provides free superfast Wi-Fi, phone calls, device charging, access to social services, and displays content such as real-time weather, transit info, public art, and local information. The city-wide network has more than 14 million Wi-Fi users and has connected more than 30 million free phone calls. All of LinkNYC’s services are completely free to users and taxpayers, provided by CityBridge, a joint venture led by Intersection and Boldyn Networks. The second generation offering will deploy thousands of new kiosks, called Link5G, enabled with 5G wireless technology across the city. For more information about LinkNYC or to find a Link near you, visit www.link.nyc.