Serious mental illness is one or more mental, behavioral or emotional conditions that significantly impairs a person’s ability to function in daily life. It often includes the following conditions:
Schizophrenia
Mood disorders, such as bipolar and major depressive
Anxiety disorders
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Symptoms can vary widely among people who are diagnosed with serious mental illness, so treatment and care options may depend on each person’s experiences.
Common Symptoms
Symptoms of serious mental illness often first appear in early adulthood, but they can be difficult to identify.
Common signs of serious mental illness include:
Psychosis (difficulty separating reality from fantasy)
Isolation
Distrust of people who are seen as hostile
Poor performance at work or school, possibly due to distraction from paranoia or internal voices
Inability to maintain personal hygiene or take care of their living space
These symptoms can cause people with severe mental illness to have problems in many areas of their life, including their relationships, housing, education and employment.
Care Options
If you or someone you know is seeking care for a serious mental illness, consider one of the options below. For help connecting to care, talk to your health care provider or contact 988.
There are a wide variety of services available to support people with serious mental illness. Care options include:
Outpatient treatment: Includes therapy and medication provided by a licensed professional.
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Inpatient treatment: Accessed through emergency departments where a psychiatric evaluation may lead to admission.
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Psychosocial Rehabilitation: Improves a person's ability to function in daily life through counseling, skill building and psychoeducational interventions.
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Peer Support: Get help from people with personal experience using mental health services, with a focus on coping with symptoms and finding community resources.
Housing Services: There are various programs to help people with serious mental illness stay in their community. Supportive housing services can provide affordable, permanent and independent housing that promotes health through case management.
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Care Coordination: A coordinated care approach can connect patients with outpatient treatment, rehabilitation and housing. It can also help them find ways. Ask your provider about a referral to the Health Department's Single Point of Access program.
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Crisis Services: For urgent situations that are not life-threatening, 988 can connect you to rapid response services that can help deescalate and resolve a crisis.
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Emergency Services: For life-threatening situations, call 911.
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Clubhouses
Clubhouses offer free support to New Yorkers who have serious mental health conditions regardless of their insurance, immigration, or housing status, or criminal justice involvement history. Clubhouse members take part in activities that help the Clubhouse run. Clubhouse benefits include:
Help getting benefits
Health, legal, education, and job services (available in person, by phone, or videoconference)
Productive and recreational activities with peers
Healthy meals and snacks
To learn more or become a member, call 988 or visit nyc.gov/988, or call or visit one of the locations below.
Fountain House Bronx
564 Walton Ave.
Bronx, NY 10451
718-742-9884
jointheclubbx@fountainhouse.org
Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and New Jersey: Lantern House
512 Southern Blvd.
Bronx, NY 10455
718-993-1078
hgarcia@goodwillny.org
Venture House, Inc.
2477 Webster Ave.
Bronx, NY 10458
646-214-8164
info@venturehouse.org
Brooklyn
Brooklyn Community Services: Greater Heights Clubhouse
980 Halsey St.
Brooklyn, NY 11207
718-235-5780
GreaterheightsCHintake@werebcs.org
Services for the Underserved: Brooklyn Clubhouse
1125 Fulton St.
2nd Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11238
347-226-9015
brooklynclubhousemembership@sus.org
Venture House Inc.
885 Rogers Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11226
929-551-2130
info@venturehouse.org
Manhattan
Fountain House Midtown
425 W. 47th St.
New York, NY 10036
212-582-0340
jointheclub@fountainhouse.org
Fountain House Harlem
2067 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10035
212-582-3132
jointheclub@fountainhouse.org
New York Disaster Interfaith Services: Elements House
48 Henry St.
New York, NY 10002
929-227-6881
clubhouse@nydis.org
Phoenix House Harlem
129 West 138th Street
New York, NY 10030
646-455-0205
clubhouse@phoenixhouseny.org
Queens
Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and New Jersey: Citiview Connections
33-24A Northern Blvd.
Long Island City, NY 11101
718-361-7030
awaddell@goodwillny.org
Venture House, Inc.
150-10 Hillside Ave.
Jamaica, NY 11432
718-658-7201
info@venturehouse.org
Staten Island
Venture House, Inc.
1442 Castleton Ave.
Staten Island, NY 10302
718-658-7821
info@venturehouse.org