Gov. Kathy Hochul says mental health has been critically underfunded in the state of New York, and according to health care professionals, it's some of the youngest New Yorkers who are facing the consequences.

The governor last week said the state's $1 billion mental health care plan is starting to rollout. So far, 99 new state-operated inpatient psychiatric beds have become available, with about 500 more beds at hospitals to be restored by January.

Spectrum News 1 investigated the lack of inpatient care for teens struggling with mental health that sparked the initiative.

Beth Ehrichs is a licensed clinical social worker who treats teens struggling with mental health. She said for families in severe crisis, inpatient treatment, while often seen as a last resort, is now barely an available option.

"We're in a real mental health crisis across the board," Ehrichs said. "What we're seeing with teens is really tough. I've talked to E.R. docs and VAs who have, they're treating patients in the waiting room and in hallways because there are no inpatient psychiatric beds available." 

While her clients didn't feel comfortable going on camera, Ehrichs spoke for them because she says the lack of inpatient psychiatric beds for children and teens is a widespread and growing problem.

"And most parents don't have the luxury to safeguard their children at home," she said. "They have to go to work. They have to sleep at night when their child might be up. And where the biggest concern is, 'is my child going to commit suicide while I'm sleeping?'"

The state budget passed in May includes a $1 billion to improve the quality of mental health care in New York.

The Office of Mental Health said the plan will increase inpatient capacity by more than 1,000 beds, including 150 in state-operated psychiatric hospitals and 850 at community hospitals.

The plan also includes $30 million to expand mental health services for school-aged children throughout the state, as well as $10 million to strengthen suicide prevention programs for high-risk youth.

They say while demand for children and adolescent psychiatric beds fluctuates seasonally and regionally, generally, the availability of child and adolescent psychiatric beds meets statewide demand.

There are instances, however, where families may need to travel outside of their area for this availability.

"There is nothing more heart-wrenching than having a mom call you as a therapist, calling the therapist and saying, 'please, I see you're not accepting any new clients. My child's going to kill themselves. Please help me,'" Ehrichs said.

In the meantime, she said she's squeezing in extra sessions with her clients who are waiting months to get into the inpatient programs. She pleads with them not to give up hope.

"It's also something that families are struggling with in private on their own," Ehrichs said. "They're afraid to seek support. And it's such an overwhelming issue. I can't even imagine."