A new state audit says New York has made progress on suicide prevention but still lacks the tools needed to track results and reduce deaths statewide.
The Office of the State Comptroller released an audit this month examining how the state Office of Mental Health (OMH) carried out recommendations from the New York State Suicide Prevention Task Force between April 2019 and May 2025.
Progress, but uneven results
Auditors found OMH addressed parts of the Task Force’s recommendations, including building a regional suicide prevention framework, involving key partners such as law enforcement and health care providers, and issuing guidance to schools.
Despite those efforts, the audit says New York’s suicide rate has remained largely unchanged since the Task Force formed in 2017. After a brief decline in 2020, the rate increased slightly through 2023, even as OMH expanded programs and partnerships.
The report also highlights rising suicide rates among several racial and ethnic groups, including Black, Hispanic, and Native American populations, underscoring the need for more targeted prevention efforts.
Missing benchmarks and data gaps
A central concern in the audit is that OMH lacks clear benchmarks to measure whether Task Force recommendations are working. Auditors say the agency does not consistently track or document its actions, making it difficult to assess progress or guide future decisions.
The audit also found gaps in suicide data collection and sharing. OMH does not track efforts by other agencies to improve the accuracy and completeness of suicide surveillance data, which limits coordination at the state and local levels.
Challenges and explanations
OMH officials told auditors they face significant challenges, including the lack of new funding or statutory authority tied to the Task Force recommendations. They also cited the COVID-19 pandemic, which diverted staff and resources and disrupted many prevention initiatives shortly after the Task Force released its report in 2019.
Even so, auditors said stronger oversight, clearer documentation, and better use of performance measures could help OMH and its partners make more meaningful progress toward reducing suicide deaths statewide.
Key recommendations
The Comptroller’s office issued several recommendations, including that OMH develop formal practices to monitor, evaluate, and document suicide prevention efforts and work with the Department of Health to improve the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of suicide data.
OMH officials generally agreed with the findings and said they plan to take steps to address the issues raised in the audit.
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