Throughout the pandemic, mental health challenges have been on top of mind for many New Yorkers.  

New York City is launching the B-Heard Pilot Program to treat mental health crises as public health problems.  

B-Heard is a partnership between the city, NYC Health + Hospitals and EMS, and launched last June. 

"It is really meant to be a public health response to mental health crises in the city," said Jason Hansman, the co-director of the Mayor's Office of Community Mental Health.  

First introduced in Harlem, the program expanded to the Bronx two weeks ago. 

It allows for EMTs and mental health professionals to respond to non-violent 911 calls.