NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health Unveils Newly Renovated Behavioral Health Suite in East New York, Expanding Access to Essential Mental Health Care
Upgraded facility features modernized treatment spaces, enhanced patient workflows, and a new outdoor wellness courtyard
May 21, 2025
Brooklyn, NY — NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health announced the grand opening of its newly renovated Behavioral Health suite at Gotham Health, East New York, marking a major investment in expanding access to critical mental health services for the Brooklyn Community. With the newly renovated suite, Gotham Health, East New York will increase its capacity to serve patients, reduce wait times, and introduce new programs to better meet the growing mental health needs of the community. The redesigned space features a bright, welcoming reception area that streamlines patient check-ins and improves staff workflows. Patients will benefit from new treatment rooms equipped with modern safety features, enhanced lighting, fresh flooring throughout, and two new conference rooms to support expanded services and collaboration. A newly constructed outdoor courtyard offers a calming, therapeutic space to promote wellness and recovery.
“With these renovations, we are proud to provide a safe, healing environment where community members can access the mental health care they need, when they need it,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health CEO Michelle Lewis. “We are committed to breaking down barriers to care and ensuring every individual feels supported on their path to wellness.”
The investment comes at a critical time. In New York City, nearly one in four adults experiences a mental health disorder each year, with more than one-third reporting unmet mental health needs due to barriers such as cost, stigma, and limited service availability. Mental health remains one of the most pressing public health challenges facing New Yorkers today. According to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s 2023 report, approximately 8% of adults citywide reported experiencing serious psychological distress, with disproportionately higher rates among Black, Latino, and Middle Eastern or North African communities. These figures underscore the growing demand for accessible, high-quality behavioral health care across all boroughs.
In Brooklyn, that need is particularly urgent. According to NYC Health Data, during 2021–2022, 12.9% of adults in the borough reported experiencing symptoms of depression, and the psychiatric hospitalization rate reached 474.2 per 100,000 residents. These statistics highlight the critical importance of expanding mental health services that are both accessible and culturally responsive. Addressing behavioral health in Brooklyn is not only essential for individual well-being, but also for supporting the long-term health, stability, and resilience of the community.
“The newly renovated space is a promise that high-quality care for behavioral health is available to our community, without exception,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health Regional Administrative Director Brooklyn Charmaine Roach Valentine. “Given the rising rates of depression, expanding access to behavioral health services is essential. I am thrilled that we are able to provide a supportive environment where Brooklyn residents can receive the care they deserve.”
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, East New York cares for thousands of patients with services including Primary Care, Family Practice Services, Adult Medicine, Pediatrics, Women’s Health, Behavioral Health, Dentistry, Podiatry, Optometry, WIC Program, and Radiology. Located at 2094 Pitkin Avenue in Brooklyn, the health center is open Monday to Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 8:30 am to 4:30 p.m. The newly designed space will enable the facility to provide more capacity and facilitate additional procedures.
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MEDIA CONTACT: 212-238-7766; Nash.Dunlap@nychhc.org
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About NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health is a Federally Qualified Healthcare Provider formed in 2012 to enable individuals and families to address their health care needs in their own neighborhoods. Serving more than 100,000 New Yorkers annually in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island, and Queens, Gotham Health consists of 29 healthcare sites in all five boroughs of New York City. Gotham Health provides easy-to-access, high-quality, affordable health care services with a focus on primary care. It is committed to promoting healthy lifestyles and building healthy communities, with a focus upon providing patients and families convenient access to high-quality preventive care, such as annual check-ups and immunizations. Health care teams are trained to help patients manage ongoing conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and heart disease.
About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
