Who this helps: New Yorkers without insurance, undocumented residents, parents of public school students, and anyone who has been told they need to “wait six weeks for an intake” before seeing a therapist in NYC.
If you are trying to get mental health care in New York City and you do not have private insurance, the fastest path is often the one most people do not know about: NYC Health + Hospitals’ integrated behavioral health departments. You do not need to be a citizen. You do not need an appointment. And if you earn under 200% of the federal poverty level, clinic visits are generally $0 (ACCESS NYC: NYC Care).
The Fastest Entry Point: NYC Care
NYC Care is the healthcare access program run by NYC Health + Hospitals for New Yorkers who do not qualify for or cannot afford health insurance, including undocumented residents (ACCESS NYC). It covers primary care, specialty care, mental health services, prescriptions, and 24/7 customer service.
How to enroll:
- Call 1-646-NYC-CARE (1-646-692-2273)
- Or visit nyccare.nyc
- Or walk into any NYC Health + Hospitals facility and ask to enroll in person
Enrollment is confidential. Immigration status is not a factor, and information is not shared with immigration authorities. Fees are based on household size and income — under 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, clinic visits are generally $0.
Walk-In Behavioral Health at Gotham Health
All Gotham Health sites — the NYC Health + Hospitals community clinic network — have integrated behavioral health departments. This means you can walk in, ask about mental health services, and be connected on the same visit. You can also call NYC Care to be routed to the nearest site with availability.
Services typically include individual therapy, psychiatric evaluation and medication management, group therapy, and substance use treatment. The same intake path serves depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, and postpartum concerns.
16 School-Based Mental Health Clinics
For families of public school students, NYC Health + Hospitals operates 16 school-based mental health clinics across the Bronx and Central Brooklyn, serving more than 6,000 students (NYC Mayor’s Office). These are full clinical services delivered inside the school building — individual, family, and group therapy, with connections to outpatient clinics and telehealth when needed.
The clinics are part of a broader three-year behavioral health plan at NYC Health + Hospitals, funded in part through a $41 million state investment in the Behavioral Health Centers of Excellence program, which targets high-risk individuals enrolled in New York State Medicaid Managed Care (NYC Health + Hospitals press release).
How to find out if your child’s school has a clinic: Contact the school counselor directly or call NYC Care at 1-646-692-2273 and ask whether the student’s school is part of the School-Based Mental Health Clinic network. A school counselor can make the referral internally.
If You Need Help Right Now
NYC’s 24/7 mental health hotline is NYC 988 — call or text 988, or text “WELL” to 65173. This is free, confidential, and available in multiple languages. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911.
How to Take Action
1. If you have no insurance: Call 1-646-NYC-CARE (1-646-692-2273) and ask to enroll in NYC Care. Ask specifically about mental health services during enrollment.
2. If you need care today: Walk into any NYC Health + Hospitals Gotham Health clinic and say, “I need to see behavioral health.” You will be triaged the same visit.
3. If your child is struggling: Email or call the school counselor. Ask if the school participates in the NYC Health + Hospitals School-Based Mental Health Clinic program. If it does not, the counselor can still refer you to the nearest clinic.
4. If you are in crisis: Call or text 988. This is the NYC gateway to the 24/7 mental health support line.
Contact your healthcare provider for medical advice. This article is general information about public health programs and how to access them, not medical advice. Program eligibility, hours, and phone numbers are current as of April 2026 and subject to change.
