De Blasio unveils 'road map' to spot, treat mental illness

An emotional Mayor Bill de Blasio contrasted the mental health struggles of his war veteran father and his college student daughter Monday in unveiling a long-term plan to provide emotional care to New Yorkers.

Through reddened eyes and in a choked-up voice, de Blasio recounted how his father, Warren Wilhelm, was traumatized by his combat experiences in World War II, battled alcoholism and ultimately committed suicide. The mayor then spoke about his daughter, Chiara, 20, who went public with her depression and substance abuse issues on Christmas Eve 2013 and is on the path to recovery.

"He was strong and he was smart, but he couldn't do what Chiara did," de Blasio said.

The Democrat and first lady Chirlane McCray, at an East Harlem news conference, introduced the ThriveNYC "road map" to helping those suffering mental illness. The city is investing $850 million over four years into initiatives such as training 250,000 people in mental health first aid and creating a "mental health corps" of physicians and clinicians to deploy into communities.

"Something that happens in the trajectory of somebody's life -- something that happens to their mental health -- can create an irreparable reality. Or it can be something that we recognize and treat . . . a reality that turns around and leaves someone stronger," de Blasio said. "I know from my own experiences both sides of that spectrum."

McCray, who is helping to spearhead the rollout, said depression, addiction, bipolar disease and other mental illnesses are wrongly stigmatized and the "public health crisis" must be addressed.

"We are sending a message that we will no longer ignore suffering that we know how to fix," she said.

One in five adult New Yorkers is likely to experience a mental health disorder, and 8 percent of city public high school students report attempting suicide, McCray said.

The ThriveNYC plan features 54 total initiatives. The mental first aid training teaches people to recognize the signs of mental illness and effectively provide support. Other programs include a mental health service finder, an online tool that permits users to find providers by age group, insurance they accept and more, and the introduction of coping and social awareness skills in prekindergarten.

Chiara de Blasio said at the event that attending Alcoholics Anonymous, receiving treatment and counseling others has provided her the "tool of hope."

"No matter how much I may be struggling . . . I am able to see through to the other side," she said.