Senator Samra Brouk Makes Top Five on City & State’s “Mental Health Power 50” List

ALBANY, NY - Today, Senator Samra Brouk, Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Mental Health, placed fifth on City & State’s “The Mental Health Power 50” list of influential figures making a difference for those struggling with mental illness. 

COVID-19 exposed existing mental health needs in our state and exacerbated them by increasing the demand for services among our families, educators and essential workforce and by making it more difficult for friends, loved ones and mandated reporters to recognize problems and connect people with the help they need. Chair Brouk has worked in the Senate to increase access to mental health care services, recruit and maintain a diverse network of mental health care practitioners and destigmatize seeking mental health treatment, especially within communities of color.

NY State Senator Samra Brouk: “It is an honor to be recognized by City & State for the work we’ve done to provide a more compassionate emergency response for those suffering mental health crises. The COVID-19 pandemic has shined a light upon the unmet mental health needs of our communities, which is why I have worked in the Senate on efforts to destigmatize seeking help and increase the diversity of our practitioners so more New Yorkers have access to compassionate, relatable care. I am steadfast in my commitment to New Yorkers struggling with mental illness and look forward to working toward the passage of Daniel’s Law in the coming legislative session.”

Chair Brouk is serving her first term as the senator to the 55th Senate District. In her first year as senator, Chair Brouk has introduced Daniel’s Law, a comprehensive piece of legislation that outlines how New Yorkers experiencing a mental health breakdown and/or substance abuse crisis can better be served by a public health response that maximizes consent-based care and minimizes the role of law enforcement and the use of force against an individual (A4814). Chair Brouk also sponsored and passed legislation to create a 9-8-8 hotline, akin to 9-1-1, to serve people in the midst of a mental health crisis (S6194B)

Chair Brouk has passed legislation to establish a black youth suicide task force (S3408) and legislaiton to increase the number of trained professionals who are able to assist youth outside of an educational setting, which would increase sorely needed access to timely services (S4347A). In addition to her work on mental health issues, she also secured historic funding for our schools in this year’s New York State Budget, with a three-year commitment to fully funding Foundation Aid and over $1 billion dollars in emergency relief to New York’s small business community.