Albany County plans to shut down its Children's Mental Health Clinic due to ongoing staffing challenges, the New York State Office of Mental Health confirmed Thursday.
The clinic, located on South Pearl Street, has been in operation since 2004 and provides emergency services for children aged 5 to 18. Services include scheduled appointments, therapy evaluations, outpatient treatment, consultations, and medication management with prescriptions.
Staffing Crisis Forces Clinic Closure
By mid-December, the clinic had been reduced to one part-time staff member assisting just three families. The county notified the Office of Mental Health last year of its intention to proceed with the closure. The clinic is currently not accepting new patients, according to the Times Union.
The Office of Mental Health has offered assistance with recruitment efforts and stated it will collaborate with the county to ensure families do not experience a disruption in care. County representatives have not responded to requests for comment. Officials have indicated that alternative resources and referrals will be provided to affected families during the transition period.
This closure follows a broader pattern of mental health service reductions in the region. Ellis Hospital previously had to shut down its inpatient adolescent mental health unit due to insufficient staffing. Additionally, the Center for Disability Services recently announced it would discontinue psychiatric services at the end of December 2025, affecting approximately 600 patients, cfdsny reported.
Healthcare officials cite a significant shortage of mental health professionals available for hire across the region. The challenges may be related to salary issues or the demanding nature of the work. Burnout among mental health workers has intensified the recruitment problem.
State and Federal Response
The announcement comes as Governor Kathy Hochul has been promoting initiatives to tackle the youth behavioral health crisis in New York State. Her proposals include expanding school-based mental health clinics and community-based treatment options.
Last summer, Albany County initiated a street psychiatry program aimed at enhancing behavioral health services, with partial funding from the Albany police department's budget to address issues related to the city's homeless population.
The timing also coincides with federal funding challenges, as the Trump administration moved to eliminate $12 million in funding allocated for children's health programs, though a federal judge has ordered the restoration of those funds to the American Academy of Pediatrics, as per US News.
Mental health advocates have expressed concern about the loss, noting that waiting lists for mental health services in the region are already extensive and that Albany lacks a mobile crisis unit specifically for children and teenagers.
