Albany County launches mobile street psychiatry program for unhoused individuals

A new street psychiatry program is set to launch in Albany County, targeting unhoused individuals in urban areas. This innovative mobile initiative aims to provide immediate psychiatric care to those who are too unstable to access traditional healthcare services. The program will feature a psychiatrist on staff, enabling the team to prescribe medication and stabilize individuals on-site, ultimately helping them transition to more conventional support systems.

During the Albany Health Committee meeting on March 27, 2025, committee members discussed the program's alignment with existing services, particularly the Albany Navigates program, which focuses on coordinating care for vulnerable populations. The street psychiatry program is designed to operate alongside these efforts, ensuring effective communication and collaboration.

While the program will not directly coordinate with police departments, there will be overlapping services and communication between mental health outreach programs and law enforcement. This is crucial for addressing situations involving unstable individuals, such as potential suicides or barricaded persons.

The pilot program is expected to begin in 2025, with initial staffing plans including a part-time psychiatrist and a nurse or case manager. Funding for the program is still being finalized, but there are hopes to reassign unfilled positions within the Department of Mental Health to bolster staffing.

Committee members praised the initiative as a forward-thinking approach to addressing homelessness and mental health challenges, drawing inspiration from successful models implemented in other regions facing similar issues. The program represents a significant step towards enhancing mental health support for some of the county's most vulnerable residents.