As Teen Suicide, Drug Use Concerns Escalate, Town To Create Satellite Mental Health Office Nearby

SOUTHOLD, NY — With teen suicide and drug use an escalating concern, Southold Town is seeking to address mental health issues close to home.

For years, teens in crisis have had to travel long distances to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment — but the time has come for a satellite office that could help provide immediate support right in Southold Town, officials said Tuesday.

At Tuesday's town board work session, Southold Town government liaison officer Denis Noncarrow said the goal is to set up a satellite office locally that can help in times of crisis and serve as a preventative measure, too.

"Teens 18 years old and under on the North Fork have a huge problem finding mental health care," Noncarrow said. "It's been a challenge through the years."

After the South Fork was faced with tragedy and teen suicide, New York State provided funding for mental health services, Noncarrow said.

And now New York State Senator Ken LaValle, Noncarrow said, is onboard with helping to secure similar funding for the North Fork.

Lynn Nyilas, Southold Town's part-time community relations specialist, also youth coordinator of the North Fork Alliance, said when the South Fork was faced with teen suicides, the Family Service League set up a satellite office with funding so parents were able to find help and support immediately without having to "jump through as many hoops."

Having to travel to Stony Brook University Hospital in a crisis situation, where every minute counts, can be "traumatic", Noncarrow said. A mental health clinic close to home can help provide immediate support and would be a "wonderful thing, comforting to parents", he said.

Councilwoman Jill Doherty asked if the office would help teens navigate through issues before they reached a critical point.

Noncarrow said that was the objective; the aim, he said, is to hire another social worker to work with the Greenport, Southold and Mattituck School Districts that all can share; currently, all three districts have their own social worker, but those individuals are "bombarded" with casework, he said.

Nyilas said experts would be trained to spot signs of suicidal behavior; she just received safeTALK training to detect suicidal behavior and said that training is free and can be provided by the Family Service League.

Anxiety in teens is something that must be addressed, Doherty said, adding that when anxiety is not treated it can lead to drug and alcohol abuse.

Nyilas agreed and said that very issue was spotlighted at a recent seminar at Suffolk County Community College.

Eastern Long Island Hospital CEO and President Paul J. Connor is working with the town and facilitated a connection with Stony Brook University Hospital; the senator has expressed an interest in "pushing" the initiative forward, Noncarrow said.

The time is now to bring mental health services for teens close to home, Nyilas said. "We have been historically underserved on the North Fork," she said.

Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell agreed: "Creating a satellite office is one of the most worthwhile endeavors we can undertake on behalf of our youth and I am very enthusiastic about supporting our new youth board director Lynn Nyilas in this important initiative."

Editor's correction: An earlier version of this story stated that the districts shared one mental health professional. In fact, each district has their own, but down the line, the hope, Denis Noncarrow said, is that an additional person might be hired that all districts can share, to enhance services provided. We apologize for any confusion.