Delivering on Key Commitment in “Working
People’s Agenda,” Free Digital Resource Available to All New
Yorkers 13-17 Years Old
Facing High Levels of Anxiety and Depression,
Teens Can Connect with Licensed Therapist at No Cost
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of
Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan
today announced “TeenSpace” — the city’s tele-mental health service
available to all New York City teenagers between the ages of 13 and
17 years old at no cost. Launching this month, the service —
created in partnership with online therapy platform Talkspace —
will allow New York City teenagers to connect with a licensed
therapist through phone, video, and text.
As levels of anxiety and depression among youth and teenagers
have risen during and since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic,
this new program will help connect teens with appropriate support
and referrals to more care if needed. The launch delivers on a key
commitment from Mayor Adams’ “Working People’s Agenda” and “Care,
Community, Action,” his mental health plan for New York City
released in March.
“When we took office nearly two years ago, we promised all New
Yorkers that we would build a healthier city together, and invest
in not just our physical health, but our mental health as well,”
said Mayor Adams. “Earlier this year, we pledged to make
mental health support available to all New York City teens, and
today we are delivering on that promise. Beginning today, all New
York City teenagers, ages 13 to 17, can talk, text, or make video
calls to a licensed therapist for free through the city’s online
‘TeenSpace’ service. Our young people shouldn’t ever feel alone.
We’re here for them, and together I know we’ll build a healthier,
stronger city together.”
“Coming out of a once-in-a-century pandemic, we know that levels
of anxiety and depression have increased particularly among our
young people,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services
Anne Williams-Isom. “Across New York City in recent years,
approximately 40 percent of Latino and Black young people and 30
percent of white young people reported experiencing anxiety,
depression, or an associated condition. Nationally, we have
witnessed these numbers climb even higher. That’s why today’s
announcement is so important — it puts access to mental health
support right in the hands of our young people. They can use their
smart phone or other devices to connect with a practitioner in a
time and space that works for them. Thank you to the team at DOHMH
and to everyone that made this possible.”
“There are few issues more important than the health of our
children, and study after study has reinforced what we have been
seeing — the mental health of our young people is on a clear
downward trajectory,” said DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Vasan.
“‘TeenSpace’ will provide our city’s teens with a tangible resource
to support their mental health and wellbeing and reduce barriers to
accessing care — helping teens take greater control of their mental
journey on their own terms. Supporting healthy minds from a young
age will lay a foundation for the future of a healthier New York
City.”
“Mental health is an essential component in the lives of our
young people and ensuring that our students are fully supported
sets our children up for academic and lifelong success. Student
safety and wellbeing includes physical safety and emotional
wellbeing,” said New York City Department of Education
Chancellor David C. Banks. “Our public schools offer a robust
set of mental health supports, including social workers, school
counselors, mental health clinics, partnerships with
community-based mental health providers, and an emphasis on
mindfulness, and I am glad that our teens will have access to
another tool to engage with when they need it. It is our
responsibility to provide our young people with every resource at
our disposal, and I am grateful to our agency partners at DOHMH for
helping to maintain this commitment.”
“When speaking with young people at our six youth town halls on
gun violence, Mayor Adams, Commissioner Dr. Vasan, and I heard the
message over and over again — mental health is a top priority,”
said New York City Department of Youth and Community Development
(DYCD) Commissioner Keith Howard. “Teens are often reluctant to
reach out for help, and ‘TeenSpace’ will allow them to open up on
platforms they are already using. DYCD looks forward to working
with our agency partners in connecting this exciting new resource
to young people in our programs.”
“We thank the Health Department for creating ‘TeenSpace,’ making
it easier for young people to tap into mental health support
whether they’re looking for help to cope with life stressors or
simply need a compassionate listening ear,” said Mayor's Office
of Community Mental Health Executive Director Eva Wong.
“Tele-mental health can be a powerful tool to engage and address
the rising need for mental health support amongst teens and young
adults. Making access to free therapists available through this
innovative tele-mental health program is intuitive and responsive
to the calls from our young people, particularly those in
communities with limited mental health resources who have told us
they need support but do not know where to start. Lowering barriers
to care and closing gaps in mental health care are precisely the
goals our office prioritizes. We are thrilled to be supporting this
monumental initiative.”
“DOHMH Commissioner Vasan and Executive Deputy Commissioner
Deepa Avula have worked tirelessly to deliver on the mayor’s vision
to address the escalating mental health crisis in teens,” said
Jon Cohen, M.D., CEO, Talkspace. “We are proud to power this
groundbreaking citywide program providing one-on-one therapy that
is convenient, confidential, accessible 24/7, and free of
charge.”
Talkspace will operate the innovative service connection to a
therapist, helping to introduce young people to care. Teens will be
able to engage with a professional through video, phone, and
unlimited chat on the platform. If a client is in need of extended
services, they can be referred to additional external
resources.
The city and Talkspace designed the service with input from New
York City teenagers, convening focus groups to best understand
their mental health needs and to build a platform that is as useful
and responsive as possible to those who will use the platform. By
leveraging telehealth tools, this approach also reduces physical
and financial burdens for young people.
The TeenSpace platform arrives as mental health challenges are
becoming increasingly prevalent among young people in New York City
and across the country. New data published by DOHMH revealed that,
between 2011 and 2021, there was an increase in the percentage of
city students who reported feeling sad and hopeless, non-suicidal
self-injury, and suicidal ideation. In 2019, 36 percent of New York
City high schoolers reported feeling so sad or hopeless almost
every day for at least two weeks during the past 12 months that
they stopped doing their usual activities — that figure rose to 38
percent in 2021. Latino and Black students were significantly more
likely than white students to report feeling sad or hopeless. Over
the last 10 years, rates of suicide ideation increased among
adolescents, with 9.2 percent of New York City public high school
students in 2021 reporting attempting suicide over the past 12
months.
“Issues such as depression and anxiety are real, and millions of
teens are affected across the country. We have witnessed the
ramifications of mental health crises faced by individuals,
families, and particularly, our young people,” said U.S.
Representative Adriano Espaillat. “I commend the Adams’
administration for its work to address mental health among teens
with this new initiative. TeenSpace is an innovative tele-mental
health service available to New York teenagers that will allow them
to connect with licensed therapists for free while using their
device. Today’s announcement reaffirms our commitment to supporting
the mental health agenda and is a great step towards caring for our
youth, getting them connected to services, and putting them on a
path toward healthy and successful futures.”
“When people are suffering, talking about it with the right
people helps,” said New York State Senator Simcha Felder. “I
applaud Mayor Adams for this investment in teenage mental health
and well-being that has lifesaving potential.”
“As the representative of Harlem, I am profoundly committed to
the well-being and future of our youth," said New York State
Assemblymember Inez Dickens. “The launch of TeenSpace, a
groundbreaking tele-mental health service, marks a monumental step
forward in this commitment. This initiative, spearheaded by Mayor
Eric Adams and Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan, is not just a
service but a lifeline for the teenagers of New York City,
including those in Harlem. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly
amplified mental health challenges among our youth, making
accessible mental health care more vital than ever. TeenSpace,
developed in partnership with Talkspace, offers a no-cost,
innovative solution, enabling teenagers between 13 and 17 years old
to connect with licensed therapists via phone, video, and text.
This is especially crucial for my constituents in Harlem, where
such resources can be transformative. By investing in the mental
health of our teenagers, we are investing in the strength and
resilience of our community. TeenSpace is more than a platform;
it's a beacon of hope and support, ensuring that our youth are not
alone in their struggles and have the care they need to thrive.
This aligns perfectly with the vision set forth in Mayor Adams’
State of the City address and reinforces our city's commitment to
mental health and the future of our young people.”
“Our mental health is as critical to wellness as our physical
health,” said New York State Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar.
“TeenSpace is a cutting-edge solution that will make free
mental health providers accessible to our teens with just the touch
of a button. This groundbreaking service will, at no cost, help
prevent mental health crises among our teenage New Yorkers and give
them the essential support they need to be our future leaders. New
York continues to be an innovation hub and beacon of hope for the
mental health of our nation at a time when suicide among our
teenagers has risen by 60% in the past decade. I will continue to
partner with Mayor Adams and Commissioner Vasan so that all New
Yorkers, of all ages, across our city and state, will have access
to low-cost, innovative, quality mental healthcare.”
“We want to applaud the mayor and DOHMH Commissioner Vasan for
launching this service which will help so many teens who are
suffering from post-COVID-19 anxiety and depression,” said
Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella. “This app
opens up a new novel avenue to address these important issues.”
“With the launch of TeenSpace, our youngest New Yorkers will now
have easy and accessible access to virtual therapy and mental
health services,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L.
Gibson. “Many of our youth and adolescents are seeking someone
to speak to about their issues, and this service will help
eliminate barriers for our youth to communicate with a licensed
mental health professional. I want to thank Mayor Eric Adams and
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner
Dr. Ashwin Vasan for their work on this project and commitment to
ensuring every New Yorker has equitable access to healthcare
services.”
“Teens were greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and are
still feeling its impact today,” said Queens Borough President
Donovan Richards Jr. “This new service will surely help many of
our teens in Queens and beyond to find the support they need and
begin their mental health journey. I applaud the Mayor's Office and
the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for
prioritizing our young people's health and wellness with
TeenSpace.”
“As New York City continues to recover from COVID-19, it is more
important than ever to ensure support for the mental health
struggles our teens faced during the pandemic and continue to
experience,” said New York City Councilmember Lynn Schulman,
chair, Health Committee. “Today’s announced telehealth service
for teens represents an innovative way to reach teens through their
most comfortable social environment - online. Thank you to Mayor
Adams and DOHMH Commissioner Vasan for elevating the importance of
teen health and bringing this 'TeenSpace' initiative to
fruition.”
“Mental health has become more important now than ever before,
and the launch of TeenSpace proves that when we put the health and
well-being of our youth at the forefront, we can influence real
change,” said New York City Councilmember Marjorie
Velázquez. “Many teens are nervous to ask for help, fearing
backlash, getting mocked by classmates, and scrutiny. This new
addition allows our youth to receive the critical mental health
care they need to thrive. I’m excited about this program and look
forward to Bronxites taking advantage of its benefits.”
“As someone who has personally experienced the challenges of
navigating mental health as a teenager, I am not only thrilled, but
deeply grateful for the launch of the tele-mental health app for
teens by the New York City Health Department,” said New York
City Councilmember Erik Bottcher. “This initiative is a crucial
step towards providing the necessary support and resources for our
young people during a time when mental health needs are more
important than ever. As a City Councilmember and advocate for
mental health awareness, I commend the New York City Health
Department for recognizing the urgent need for accessible mental
health services for our teenagers. This tele-mental health service
will undoubtedly make a significant impact in improving the
well-being of our youth and fostering a community of support.”
“All signs point toward better outcomes for students when they
have reliable access to mental health services,” said New York
City Councilmember Gale A. Brewer. “Socio-emotional support can
make an enormous difference, literally changing the course of
students’ entire lives for the better. An alarming number of
schools lack funding for a full-time social worker or mental health
professional. I commend the mayor for exploring methods to deliver
culturally appropriate mental health services to all teens.”
“Tele-mental health is a significant resource that empowers
youth and families to respond to their mental health needs quickly
and flexibly while addressing long standing, systemic challenges to
accessing care,” said Jennifer Geiling, president, 1digit,
LLC. “I commend Mayor Adams and Commissioner Vasan for their
unwavering commitment to mental health care and putting into action
the visionary goals set forth in Care, Community, Action: A Mental
Health Plan for New York City. Today’s announcement is an important
step in supporting the success of our youth today and cultivating a
healthy, resilient future for New York City.”
“The Jed Foundation (JED) applauds Mayor Adams, Dr. Vasan, and
New York City on these actionable and culturally responsive next
steps for local teens to access tele-mental health services in
real-time,” said John MacPhee, CEO, JED. “Telehealth
technology is a powerful tool to give youth free access to mental
health care, helping protect their emotional well-being and
mitigate risks of suicide for as many youths as possible. Together,
we can help connect teens to care where they spend most of their
time – at school and in digital spaces – while also helping remove
barriers for families with busy schedules and reaching the teens
who need it most.”
“We applaud New York City's steadfast commitment to addressing
the current mental health crisis among our youth with an
actionable, comprehensive plan for those at greatest risk,” said
Bunny Ellerin, CEO, Digital Health New York. “Only with this
level of innovation, collaboration, and care, will we begin to make
a difference for young New Yorkers living with mental health
issues.”
“The access to care that tele-mental health services will open
up for New York City youth in need could not be more timely,” said
Kelsey Louie, CEO, The Door. “The mental health crisis has
been escalating at an alarming rate, especially among young people.
That urgent need not only demands that we expand mental health
services for New York City young people, but also innovate and
broaden how and where we provide those services. At The Door, we
know that means offering multiple, accessible points of entry into
mental health care. Further, as DOHMH’s Care, Community, Action
Plan states, prevention is key to addressing the current youth
mental health crisis and to driving equitable access to care.
Tele-mental health is a vital tool that can help our city’s young
people get connected with the supportive, culturally responsive
behavioral health care they need to thrive.”
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John Kim | jkim@skdknick.com pressoffice@cityhall.nyc.gov |
(212) 788-2958
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