GSG’s latest Inside Scoop event convened leading voices from across New York’s mental health ecosystem to explore the state of mental health in the city and state, and what must come next to meet rising needs. Moderated by GSG Partner Dana Yeganian, the panel featured insights from Dr. Ashwin Vasan, Former Commissioner of the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene; Dr. Jon Cohen, CEO & Director of Talkspace; Jeremy Feigelson, Senior Advisor to the MTA; Bob Moon, Deputy Commissioner for Community Program Policy & Management at the NYS Office of Mental Health; and Assemblymember Monique Chandler-Waterman, representing NYS Assembly District 58.
Dr. Ashwin Vasan described a system still grappling with post-pandemic surges in need—from heightened teen mental health challenges to increasing numbers of New Yorkers living unsheltered—despite important progress like a 28% reduction in overdose deaths over the past year. Panelists emphasized that recovery hinges on stable housing, accessible voluntary services, and rebuilding trust in systems that have too often failed the people they are meant to serve. Providers, they noted, remain strained and under-resourced, especially with looming Medicare cuts expected to hit New York next year.
Jeremy Feigelson stressed the critical role of case management in helping individuals navigate a fragmented system, noting that coordinated support is essential not only for guiding people through recovery but also for reaching individuals upstream—including those transitioning out of correctional facilities. Strengthening this connective tissue is key to ensuring people don’t fall through the cracks.
The conversation also called attention to the expanding role of technology and AI in both supporting and complicating mental health care. Dr. Jon Cohen highlighted Talkspace’s Teenspace program which now provides access to virtual and text-based therapy for almost 500,000 young people—a model described as accessible, scalable, and essential to meeting teens where they are. At the same time, Bob Moon and Assemblymember Monique Chandler-Waterman underscored the need for safeguards around AI-powered tools, stressing that technology can enhance care but can never replace human providers.
Looking ahead, panelists urged the incoming mayoral administration to prioritize non-police mental health responses, strengthen the outreach and clinical workforce, streamline complex systems, and invest in community-based supports. With rising demand, constrained resources, and new technological shifts, they agreed: addressing New York’s mental health crisis will require all hands on deck.