NYC Health Department Marks Significant Achievements This Year in Life Expectancy, Mental Health Expansion, Maternal Health, and More

NYC Health Department Marks Significant Achievements This Year in Life Expectancy, Mental Health Expansion, Maternal Health, and More

New Yorkers' Life Expectancy Rises To All-Time High, And Overdose Deaths Drop By Historic Amount

New Strategies Address Chronic Disease, Mental Health, and Health Inequity

December 16, 2025 - In 2025, the New York City Health Department made noteworthy achievements in improving the health and well-being of New Yorkers. From life expectancy gains to expansions addressing chronic diseases, maternal health, mental health, and more, New York City continues to lead the nation in innovative public health efforts to promote and protect the health of New Yorkers. While these advances reflect real progress, the NYC Health Department remains committed to reducing persistent health inequities across the city.

"We took office with a simple promise: to 'Get Stuff Done,' and, four years later, our administration can say we delivered that every day for working-class New Yorkers," said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. "We drove shootings to record lows and pushed jobs and small businesses to record highs. We rewrote the playbook on homelessness and mental health to finally get New Yorkers living on our streets the help they need, and, after decades of half-measures, passed historic housing legislation to turn New York into a 'City of Yes.' We overhauled the way our students learn to read and do math, cut the cost of child care, and forgave medical debt. We eliminated taxes for low-income families, launched free universal after-school programming, improved access to doulas and maternal health outcomes, and increased life expectancy to an all-time high while decreasing opioid overdose deaths at the fastest rate in nearly a decade. We got scaffolding off our buildings, trash bags off our streets, and opened up new public spaces for New Yorkers to enjoy. The haters may have doubted us, but the results are clear. On issue after issue, we brought common-sense leadership to create a safer, more affordable city, and our work has changed our city for the better; it will stand the test of time because we made New York City the best place to live and raise a family."

"Reaching an all-time high in life expectancy and a dramatic reduction in COVID-19 and overdose deaths is indisputable evidence of the value of public health and the whole-of-government approach to addressing the health and well-being of New Yorkers," said Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse. "Although our data show New York City has made progress overall, persistent racial inequities prove there is much more to be done. The next frontier of this work must focus on equity, especially in the face of federal actions that are undermining public health and our critical work in New York City. We have faced seemingly insurmountable obstacles before - we did not back down then, and we will not back down now."

Life Expectancy Reaches All-Time High

New Yorkers' life expectancy rose to an all-time high of 83.2 years according to the latest data, surpassing the ambitious 2030 goal set by the Health Department's HealthyNYC campaign. The overall increase is largely attributable to a sharp decline in COVID-19 death rates across all racial and ethnic groups, although major racial inequities persist among other leading causes of death. Launched in 2023, HealthyNYC addresses the leading causes of premature death, including chronic diseases, screenable cancers, overdose, maternal mortality, and COVID-19.

Overdose Deaths Decline

New York City recorded a 28 percent decrease in overdose deaths in 2024, the most substantial decline in nearly a decade. Overdose deaths dropped from 3,056 in 2023 to 2,192 in 2024, with reductions seen across all five boroughs and among Black and Latino New Yorkers for the first time since 2018. The city also announced new investments, including $4 million in annual funding to expand access to medications for opioid use disorder, further driving down overdose rates.

Chronic Disease Strategic Roadmap Released

The Health Department released Addressing Unacceptable Inequities: A Chronic Disease Strategy for New York City, a comprehensive plan to equitably tackle the root causes of chronic diseases-including heart disease, diabetes, and screenable cancers. The report offers a clear roadmap for the city's efforts to tackle the biggest diseases killing New Yorkers, as well as address the structural and environmental conditions that shorten lifespans.

Mental Health Support Expanded

The city celebrated the opening of a new clubhouse in Brooklyn, providing free, member-led spaces for adults experiencing serious mental illness. This is one of 13 new clubhouse contracts launched in 2025. These spaces offer social connections, employment support, and educational services, fostering supportive community for those in need.

Report on Health of Immigrant New Yorkers Released

Following the distribution of the Open Letter to Immigrant New Yorkers, the Health Department released The Health of Immigrants in New York City, highlighting the significant contributions of immigrants to the city's health and prosperity. While NYC immigrants live longer and tend to make healthier lifestyle choices than their U.S.-born counterparts, the report also outlines the critical need to address unique health challenges, such as lack of health insurance, limited access to mental health care, and structural barriers that immigrants face.

Maternal Health Pilot Begins

In September, the Health Department announced the city's first-ever Neighborhood Stress-Free Zone pilot in Brownsville, Brooklyn. The zone provides stigma-free access to maternal health education, mental health services, and social support for pregnant and postpartum New Yorkers. The NSFZ advances HealthyNYC's goal to reduce maternal mortality by 10 percent by 2030. This pilot builds on the Health Department's "New Family Home Visits Initiative," which offers in-person or virtual visits by trained health workers to the homes of expectant or new parents. Since 2021, the initiative has connected more than 23,000 families to programs featuring doulas and registered nurse pairings that ensure families receive the care, resources, and support they need.

Northeast Public Health Collaborative Launched to Address Federal Gaps

In response to federal funding cuts, the dismantling of public health infrastructure, and the undermining of vaccines, New York City joined forces with several Northeastern states and cities, including the New York State Department of Health, to establish the Northeast Public Health Collaborative, a coalition aimed at improving public health coordination, capacity, and readiness. The Collaborative has already made strides in areas such as vaccine distribution, public health emergency preparedness, and workforce development, ensuring equitable access to health services and strengthening trust in science-based medicine.

Abortion Care Expanded

The Health Department launched no-cost medication abortion services at the Fort Greene Sexual Health Clinic, bringing high-quality reproductive health care to four of the agency-run clinics. Since January, more than 1,100 patients have received services. The Abortion Access Hub continues to confidentially connect callers to trusted providers and resources that meet their needs. Since launching in 2023, the Hub has connected with more than 12,000 people seeking care in New York City; at least 14 percent were from out of state, the majority from Florida, Texas, and Georgia.

Medical Debt Erased

The city launched a pioneering program to eliminate medical debt, clearing $80 million in debt for 35,000 New Yorkers in 2025. Over three years, the program will relieve over $2 billion in medical debt for 500,000 working-class residents, making it the largest municipal initiative of its kind in the nation.

Celebrating 220 Years of Protecting New Yorkers

This year, the Health Department marked its 220th anniversary, celebrating more than two centuries of protecting New Yorkers from deadly diseases, ensuring clean drinking water, and providing access to life-saving vaccines.

As we continue to make public health strides in 2026, the Health Department reaffirms our commitment to equitably improving the health and lives of all New Yorkers.

For more information, see the NYC Health Department website.

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