We are thrilled that Chet Balram, LCSW, the Managing Director of GMHC’s Mental Health and Substance Use Services, has been named a 2025 Health Care Hero by Schneps Media for the transformative growth of the department under his leadership.
He joins an accomplished and diverse group of New York City healthcare leaders making an impact in serving their communities. “This award isn’t just for me — it’s for every member of the mental health and substance use team who works tirelessly to provide quality care to our clients,” he said.
Balram has both expanded capacity and increased access to GMHC’s mental health and substance use services since joining the agency in 2021 with his colleague Keila Morales, Managing Director of Clinic Operations.
“Our vision is to ensure that everyone who walks through GMHC’s door can access client-centered, trauma-informed, culturally competent care,” he said. “We’re very proud of how much we have achieved in such a short period — and we are just getting started. We want to ensure that everyone in our community receives the care and support they need to keep moving forward and thriving.”
GMHC now provides mental health services to more than 200 clients — up from just 20 when Balram arrived — through its Mental Health Outpatient Treatment and Rehabilitative Service (MHOTRS) clinic. “That is a huge number, and we are continuing to expand,” Balram said.
Last year, Balram’s team won a major Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Harm Reduction grant that allows the agency to provide comprehensive harm-reduction care – including substance use counseling, support groups, and psychiatric care – at no cost to anyone ages 18 and over who has used substances in the last six months or is currently using. Medication is available for clients with access to Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT). GMHC’s mental health and substance use services are open to all clients and status neutral.
Balram said he’s dedicated his career to ensuring New Yorkers living with and affected by HIV and AIDS, particularly LGBTQ people of color, can access mental health and substance use care, out of a desire to support his community. Providing a nonjudgemental and culturally competent space where people feel safe is paramount, he said.
“As a gay man of color growing up in the early 1990s and seeing what was happening to my community, I wanted to be part of the solution,” said Balram, who immigrated to New York City from Guyana with his family when he was just eight years old.
“In my community, there were folks dying of HIV and AIDS and dealing with substance use – and there was a lot of stigma and a lack of resources,” said Balram, who grew up in Brooklyn and Queens. “People had to hide who they were, especially if they were HIV positive, for fear of being judged — or even the threat of violence. There were not a lot of safe spaces back then.”
“I wanted to give my community access to mental health and substance use resources,” he said. “Growing up, I saw firsthand how limited the resources were for people like me, because of stigma and discrimination.”
“Thankfully, things have changed. We have HIV medications for people to live longer lives, and we have more resources,” Balram said. He emphasized that clients need to feel comfortable in the spaces where they receive services. “At GMHC, our staff understand how HIV and AIDS impact the community. If you are living with and affected by HIV, that often intersects with mental health and substance use, due to stigma and trauma. It can also affect housing stability and basic nutrition.”
“All of these issues inform our whole-person approach at GMHC,” Balram explained. “We are not just treating symptoms. We’re supporting the entire person by making sure they are connected to resources. As part of that, we often link clients to additional resources at GMHC or in the community.”
“We’ve seen an influx of clients seeking mental health and substance use services at GMHC, which shows that we’re creating a safe and welcoming space through a client-centered, trauma-informed approach to care,” Balram said.
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