Email | Print

New York City Voices has been working toward improving the quality of life of individuals with psychiatric conditions in New York City since 1995. The late Kenneth Myron Steele, nationally recognized mental health advocate, founded City Voices, which was originally the Park Slope Center for Mental Health's newsletter known as the Park Slope Center News.

Among other things, Ken wanted to increase the newsletter's readership and publicize the Mental Health Voter Empowerment Project. Dr. Rita Seiden, Director of Park Slope Center and Ken's therapist, supported his efforts to redesign and rename the newsletter New York City Voices.

The first issue of City Voices was published in November of 1995. It focused on the political elections that were being held at the time, keeping consumers abreast of legislative issues, such as mental health parity, that directly impacted their lives. Since the original issue of the newspaper, Ken included personal stories because he considered "self-disclosure…a necessary step toward successfully addressing the stigma associated with being mentally ill." He also thought such stories to be important content for City Voices because "they help consumers to find common ground, share information, and empathize."

Furthermore, after receiving numerous calls from readers who required assistance obtaining advocacy, housing, employment and other services, Ken added a classified section to the newspaper. During his five years at the helm, the newspaper became well known throughout the mental health community of New York State.

Since Steele's death in 2000, the Mental Health Association of New York City has provided an office and oversight. An editorial board of consumers, providers, and family members, led by Ken Steele's protégé Daniel Frey has managed the publication. Currently, it focuses on the mental health concerns of the New York City area, and on pertinent state and federal issues. City Voices provides news to give hope, to heal, to empower, to educate and to rehabilitate consumers. The paper also educates consumers' families, mental health providers, and the public at large. Pullout: "New York City Voices has been working toward improving the quality of life of individuals with psychiatric conditions in New York City since 1995."