2023-11-16 22:43:31
New York City launched a new free online tool to offer a therapy service to teens ages 13 to 17, Mayor Eric Adams and Department of Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan announced Tuesday.
Is about TeenSpacea telehealth service that was created in partnership with the online therapy platform Talkspace and will allow Big Apple teens to connect with a licensed therapist via phone, video and text messages.
The new resource was born after levels of anxiety and depression among young people and adolescents have increased during and since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The new program will help connect teens with appropriate support and referrals for further care if needed.
“When we took office nearly two years ago, we promised all New Yorkers that together we would build a healthier city and invest not only in our physical health, but in our mental health as well,” said Mayor Adams. “Earlier this year, we committed to making mental health support available to all New York City teens, and today we are delivering on that promise. Our young people should never feel alone. “We are here for them and together I know we will build a healthier and stronger city.”
How the platform will work
Talkspace will operate the innovative service connection with a therapist, helping introduce youth to healthcare. Teens will be able to interact with a professional via video, phone, and unlimited chat on the platform. If a client requires expanded services, they may be referred to additional external resources.
The city and Talkspace designed the service with input from New York City teens, convening focus groups to better understand their mental health needs and build a platform that is as helpful and responsive as possible to those who will use it. By leveraging telehealth tools, this approach also reduces physical and financial burdens for youth.
What are the statistics
The Teenspace platform comes at a time when mental health issues are increasingly prevalent among youth in New York City and across the country. New data released by DOHMH revealed that between 2011 and 2021, there was an increase in the percentage of city students reporting feeling sad and hopeless, non-suicidal self-harm, and suicidal ideation.
In 2019, 36 percent of New York City high school students reported feeling so sad or hopeless almost every day for at least two weeks over the past 12 months that they stopped doing their usual activities; that figure rose to 38 percent in 2021. Students were significantly more likely than white students to report feeling sad or hopeless.
Over the past 10 years, rates of suicidal ideation have increased among adolescents: in 2021, 9.2% of New York City public high school students reported attempting suicide in the past 12 months.
If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, there are resources to get help. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day with resources in Spanish at 1-800-273-8255 and offers services including live chat on its website. Click here for more information: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/help-yourself/en-espanol/
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