New Yorkers weigh in on mental health crisis in subway: 'I worry about being pushed'

NEW YORK (PIX11) -- Lisa, a native New Yorker from the Bronx is offering her opinion on the state of affairs in the subway system.

Specifically, her train stop on East 125 Street in East Harlem where earlier this week a 45-year-old man was fatally pushed onto the tracks. 

The suspect is a man who relatives say has had at least two mental health hospitalizations. 

Lisa and the other riders we met Friday are fed up with what they say is a revolving door of psychiatric care. 

“I worry about being pushed. They should be in a mental institution,” said Lisa. 

Mike, who lives in Manhattan, added, “You just can’t have them on the street, and then after something happens, they talk about it. 

The challenge? 

Figuring out the most effective way to engage with someone in mental crisis, how long they should remain in treatment, and whether that should be done against their will. 

“We’re going to respect civil liberties, but you don’t respect individuals when you ignore that they’re crying out for help,” said Mayor Adams. 

On Thursday Mayor Eric Adams touted the latest efforts to prevent another tragedy, including $20 Million in Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposed budget to expand – from 2 to 10 - the number of SCOUT, or mental health co-response teams. 

SCOUT teams have the authority to hospitalize someone in crisis against their will. 

Governor Hochul is also proposing the addition of 200 new inpatient psychiatric beds in state-owned facilities 

Dhanu Sannesy, a National Alliance on Mental Illness national board member, says there are gaping holes in the mental health safety net. 

 “When somebody is out of the hospital, the discharge plan must have the proper follow-up care, and that is missing in my opinion,” said Sannesy. 

New York Civil Liberties Union Senior Staff Attorney Beth Haroules says the government should proceed with a measured approach to care. 

“Some people might need longer-term institutional placement and treatment. but most people don’t need that. No one gets any of it. so, we really need to make sure our system is dealing appropriately with people who present at every level of need,” said Haroules. 

Mayor Adams continues to insist that overall, the subway system is safe. He also defends the small number of scout teams, 10, saying they don’t need to be everywhere at once but will certainly respond to reports of someone experiencing a severe mental health crisis.