Health NYC Health + Hospitals expands behavioral health workforce with 50 Peer Academy grads

NYC Health + Hospitals has announced that more than 50 people with lived experience in mental health or substance use conditions have graduated to become peer counselors. Of them, 25 of the 38 graduates in the first two classes have been hired as peer counselors, 17 work within NYC Health + Hospitals, and 12 more students graduated from the program this month.

Peer counselors can connect with traditionally hard-to-reach patients by sharing their lived experience because peers are living proof that recovery is possible. They are highly adept at inspiring hope for those whom they serve.

“Peer services are a critical part of the behavioral health care that we provide to our patients,” said Omar Fattal, MD, MPH, NYC Health + Hospitals co-deputy chief medical officer and system chief at Behavioral Health. “We are proud to continue our investment in the city’s behavioral health workforce through our Peer Academy, which trains people with lived experience with mental health or substance use disorders to become certified peer counselors. NYC Health + Hospitals is proud to have the largest hospital-based peer workforce in the city, and excited to continue to grow this valuable role for New Yorkers.”