New York State Announces Availability of $140,000 for Projects Promoting Mental Health Stigma Reduction 

NEW YORK STATE ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF $140,000 FOR PROJECTS PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA REDUCTION 

As Filing Deadline Approaches, Individual $20,000 Awards are Supported by Mental Illness Anti-Stigma Fund Tax Check-off Program   

Grant Funding is Part of Office of Mental Health’s Strategic Plan for Stigma Reduction 

New York State today announced the availability of $140,000 in grants for projects that promote mental health stigma reduction, and reminded residents about the voluntary Mental Illness Anti-Stigma Fund Tax Check-off program that funds these projects as the April 15 tax filing deadline nears. Funded through voluntary contributions made by taxpayers filing their returns, the initiative provides individual $20,000 grants to support projects spearheaded by community-based organizations. 

Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “Strong mental health is critical to overall wellbeing, and all New Yorkers should feel comfortable seeking support when they need it. The Mental Illness Anti-Stigma Fund Tax Check-off program helps support valuable efforts to reduce the stigma around mental illness and highlight the importance of mental health. We are grateful to the generous taxpayers who contribute to this program, which paves the way for more individuals to receive help for their mental health concerns.” 

Established in 2016, the program is part of OMH’s Strategic Plan for Stigma Reduction. Since its inception, it has distributed $698,753 via the tax check-off program for targeted health messaging and advertising; producing printed educational materials; guest speakers; training; sharing the human experience of mental health struggles; and multimedia productions. 

Funding is available for seven awards, including at least one project from each of OMH’s five geographic regions. Providers must be based in New York State and have at least one year of experience offering services to individuals experiencing mental health challenges. Organizations selected for the funding must also be recognized for their work with underserved or underrepresented populations.  

To be considered for funding, proposals must have one or more anti-stigma elements, including a focus on dispelling myths and misconceptions around mental health conditions at educational settings, such as schools; being contact-based and incorporating individuals with mental health diagnoses sharing recovery stories; or being directed at underserved populations and communities.

Other activities encouraged in proposals are those aimed at reducing stigma and discrimination among housing-related audiences, such as landlords, homeowners, building superintendents and billing/rent collection personnel; and in workplace settings; among parents with mental illness or families and caregivers of individuals with a mental health diagnosis; in the media; and in the health care system. 

The tax check-off program has funded a variety of programs in the past, including 2025 initiatives by SUNY Upstate Medical Center to provide community outreach and training in Mental Health First Aid through the ‘It Matters’ program; FJK Dance to address the stigma of mental illness and burnout among healthcare workers at three large New York City hospitals by utilizing an artist-in-residence overseeing dance workshops, site-specific installations, and more; RUSA, to expand cognitive therapy groups with bilingual licensed mental health therapists and address self-stigma and isolation in an underserved population of LGBTQ+ asylum seekers in Nassau County, Long Island and Queens; Harmonia, to work with Native American youth of the Seneca Nation living in rural areas of Western New York to tailor public health messaging and short videos for social media aimed at reducing mental health stigma and increasing access to supports using youth voice; and Family Services without Limits, to develop digital and printed media to distribute at educational institutions in the Hudson Valley to inform students of available resources, normalize mental health challenges, help them develop a mental health vocabulary, and support healthy use of social media. 

More information on these and other initiatives supported by the program can be found in its annual report. 

Proposals for the next round of awards are due by Aug. 31. Applicants should include the key elements defined in the announcement letter in their proposals and submit them to carol.swiderski@omh.ny.gov. 

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• OMH Mental Health Stigma Awards.pdf