Seattle has teamed up with Talkspace, an online behavioral health platform, to offer free therapy and mental health support for teens and young adults. This initiative aims to make mental health care accessible to individuals aged 13 to 24, providing services through text-based therapy and live video sessions.
Olivia Roberts, a Roosevelt High School sophomore, expressed appreciation for the program. “Mental health impacts everything—how you interact with teachers, friends, and even how much you enjoy activities,” Roberts explained. “Having an accessible resource for support is an incredible opportunity.”
Announced this week, the partnership seeks to reach approximately 55,000 students across the city. According to Chris Alejano, the K-12 Post-Secondary Division Director at Seattle’s Department of Education and Early Learning, the city is optimistic about meeting this goal.
The service allows young people to connect with licensed therapists directly through their phones. Participants receive unlimited text-based therapy and one live video session each month. Nikole Benders-Hadi, Chief Medical Officer at Talkspace, highlighted the urgency of addressing the growing mental health crisis among youth. “With 40% of high school students reporting feelings of sadness or hopelessness, this program can provide a much-needed lifeline,” she said.
The $14.55 million partnership, funded jointly by Seattle Public Schools and the City of Seattle, aims to remove barriers like cost, which often prevent young people from accessing mental health care.
Officials believe this initiative will not only support those struggling but also help prevent negative outcomes like violence. “Having a trusted outlet to express what’s going on is vital,” Roberts added.
As registrations grow, Seattle plans to analyze the program’s reach and refine outreach strategies to ensure more youth and young adults take advantage of this free resource.
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