Seattle Expands Youth Mental Health Supports with Launch of Talkspace Virtual Therapy

TALKW 12.10.2024

Full Press ReleaseSEC FilingsOur TALKW Tweets

About Gravity Analytica

Recent News

  • 01.16.2025 - January 21st is National “Check Your Coverage Day”
  • 01.15.2025 - 43rd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference
  • 01.15.2025 - Talkspace Launches AI-Powered Insights to Advance Provider Efficiency and Enhance Therapeutic Care

Recent Filings

  • 01.15.2025 - 8-K Current report
  • 01.15.2025 - EX-99.1 EX-99.1
  • 12.19.2024 - 4 Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities
PDF Version

Free online therapy currently available for local teens and young adults; additional telehealth provider partners to be announced mid-December

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 10, 2024--Today, theCity of Seattleannounced a new partnership between theDepartment of EducationandEarly Learning(DEEL) andTalkspace, a leading online behavioral health care company, to expand virtual therapy and mental health services for local teens and young adults. This program will give more than 55,000 teens and young adults access to confidential, high-quality mental health support through Talkspace’s secure digital platform, addressing the urgent need for accessible mental health care amidst a looming youth mental health crisis.

Free online therapy and virtual support fromTalkspaceare now available toSeattleyoung people ages 13 to 24. Effective immediately, eligibleSeattleresidents can sign up and get matched with a dedicated,Washington state-licensed provider and receive care throughunlimited, asynchronous messaging therapy, as well asone live video session per month. They will also get24/7 access to Talkspace Go, a self-guided mental health program for additional resources tailored to issues facing teens and young adults. This suite of services is designed to help young people navigate the challenges of daily life, including stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns. All care takes place on a secure and encrypted platform, compliant with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

DEEL’s partnership withTalkspaceis funded as part of the$14.55 millionjoint investment fromSeattle Public Schools(SPS) and theCity of Seattleto expand mental health supports forSeattleyouth. In August MayorBruce Harrelland SPS Superintendent Dr.Brent Jonesannounced new investments intended to align, strengthen, and expand student safety and mental health support for the 2024-2025 school year. Alongside school safety and violence prevention services, a core element of the proposed suite of supports is increased access to mental health resources including in-person counseling at school-based health centers and telehealth therapy services.

“Our young people are facing unprecedented mental health challenges, and my administration remains committed to building a comprehensive ecosystem of services to support the wellbeing of allSeattlestudents,” said Mayor Harrell. “The City’sreporton the youth mental health landscape found that expanding free telehealth and virtual therapy options are impactful ways to improve mental health outcomes and allow students to match with providers who can offer culturally-competent care. This new partnership withTalkspacewill remove barriers to accessing counseling and support, ensuring our students have the resources they need to build resilience and healthy coping skills to thrive in school and life.”

WithTalkspace,Seattleyouth can access evidence-based online mental health care. This initiative builds on Talkspace’s proven track record of partnering with schools, municipalities, and community organizations across the country to make mental health care as accessible as possible for the young people who need it the most. BeyondTalkspace, additional resources such as professional development and consulting, designed for educators, parents/caregivers, mentors, and other trusted adults, will be available in early 2025.

“Supporting the emotional well-being of Seattle’s young people is a top priority for DEEL,” said Dr.Dwane Chappelle, Director of theSeattle Department of Education and Early Learning. “We know that youth perform better academically, socially, and emotionally when they have the support they need. By partnering withTalkspace, we’re expanding our capabilities to ensure our teens and young adults have greater access to free and convenient mental health care. With this unique resource we seek for our young people to cultivate the wellness to thrive not only in their learning, but in life.”

CDCreveals rising rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation among teenagers, with 40% of high school students feeling so sad or hopeless almost every day for at least two weeks in a row that they stopped doing their usual activities. As a generation, Gen Z, which includes both teens and young adults in their 20s, report the poorest mental health (Walton Foundation/Gallup). By offering flexible digital mental health solutions, this partnership seeks to eliminate the barriers to therapy, ensuring that high-quality mental health care is both accessible, convenient, and timely.

“Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning has taken another significant step towards creating accessible and affordable mental health care for teens and young adults,” said Dr.Jon Cohen, CEO ofTalkspace. “This initiative ensures that young people can now access high-quality mental health care in a way that’s flexible, private, and empowering, enabling them to take control of their mental health journey.”

To sign up for free online therapy now,Seattleresidents ages 13 to 24 can visitwww.talkspace.com/seattle.

Seattleyouth also have access to Talkspace Go, a self-guided therapy app tailored for individuals. To get started, young people can download the Talkspace Go app from theApple App StoreorGoogle Play Storeand visittalkspace.com/seattlefor more information.

The City will be announcing additional telehealth therapy providers forSeattleyouth and young adults in the coming weeks. To receive timely announcements, visit DEEL’swebsitefor more information orsign up for our email listto get notifications about upcoming opportunities delivered to your inbox.

View source version onbusinesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241210318313/en/

ForTalkspace,Miranda Hunter|mhunter@sloanepr.comFor Seattle DEEL,Jonah Spangenthal-Lee|jonah.spangenthal-lee@seattle.gov

Source:Talkspace

Please be aware that the following content has been generated by an AI system and may contain errors, inconsistencies, or outdated information. It is provided as-is without any warranties or guarantees of accuracy. We strongly recommend using this content as a starting point for further research and consultation with relevant experts or authorities. We disclaim any liability for damages or losses resulting from the use or reliance on this content.Please note that this is a beta version of the Gravity Analytica LLC’s AI Service which isstill undergoing final testing before its official release. Theplatform, its software and all content found on it are provided on an“as is” and “as available” basis. Gravity Analytica LLC does not give any warranties,whether express or implied, as to the suitability or usability of thisservice, webpage, or its software or any of its content.Should you encounter any bugs, glitches, lack of functionality orother problems on the website, please let us know immediately so wecan rectify these accordingly. Your help in this regard is greatlyappreciated! You can write to us at this addressteam@gravityanalytica.com