The mental health of young people has become a major concern across the U.S., with rising rates of anxiety, depression, and other behavioral health challenges placing increased strain on families, schools, and public health systems. Traditional models of care often struggle to keep pace with this demand, especially for pediatric populations, where access to timely and affordable mental health services remains limited. In response, an encouraging new trend has emerged: public agencies—including schools, Medicaid programs, and health departments—are partnering with digital behavioral health companies to expand youth mental health digital access on a much larger scale. These public-private partnerships combine the resources and reach of government entities with the innovation and agility of tech-driven behavioral health providers. Together, they are transforming how youth behavioral health care is delivered and accessed.
Why Public-Private Partnerships Are Key to Scaling Youth Mental Health Digital Access
Public agencies face significant challenges in meeting the mental health needs of children and adolescents. Budgets are tight, provider shortages are widespread, and delivering services in traditional clinical settings can be expensive and slow. Telehealth and digital behavioral health platforms offer a promising alternative, enabling providers to serve more clients efficiently, often at lower cost.
For public entities, collaborating with these digital health companies represents an opportunity to offer behavioral health services at scale without the overhead of building new infrastructure. “Those agencies, whether it’s Medicaid, a union, or state employee benefit plan, are more aware of the importance of behavioral health as a component to overall health and more willing to, because of the importance of access, work with non-traditional providers,” explains Jon Gordon, general partner at HC9 Ventures, a firm investing in behavioral health startups.
From the digital provider’s perspective, public-private partnerships open access to large, often underserved populations. Rather than having to acquire clients piecemeal, companies can tap into entire school districts or city populations. “It’s a very creative way to leverage their assets and collaborate,” says Richard Lungen, general partner at HC9 Ventures. “But it’s still another form of revenue creation.”
Removing Barriers to Care: The New York City Talkspace Deal Expands Youth Mental Health Digital Access
One of the most notable examples of these partnerships is Talkspace’s $26 million agreement with New York City, announced in late 2024. This deal gives all adolescents aged 13 to 17 living in the city access to behavioral health services via Talkspace’s tele-mental health platform. Between 400,000 and 500,000 teens are eligible—whether they attend public, charter, or private schools.
This model addresses several key barriers simultaneously:
- Financial barriers: By having the city pay directly for services, Talkspace removes cost as a hurdle for teens seeking care. “The number one issue that prevents people from getting health care is money,” says Talkspace CEO Dr. John Cohen. “The minute you take that off the table, it changes the dynamic.”
- Insurance limitations: Teens do not need to worry about insurance coverage or claims. The city’s funding simplifies payment and reduces administrative burden.
- Access and inclusivity: By covering all teens with a New York City address, the program avoids the fragmentation that can come from limiting services to public schools alone.
This comprehensive approach helps reach more young people who might otherwise slip through the cracks, including those attending private or charter schools, or those who may not yet have a formal diagnosis but could benefit from early intervention. The New York City deal is a landmark step toward improving youth mental health digital access on a large scale.
Other Cities and School Districts Increasing Youth Mental Health Digital Access
The success of New York City’s deal has inspired other public agencies and digital health companies to forge similar partnerships. For instance, Baltimore County Public Schools recently partnered with Talkspace to provide free therapy services to over 32,000 students. This arrangement similarly removes financial and logistical barriers, empowering students to access help when and where they need it.
In Los Angeles County, Hazel Health, a school-based telehealth provider, teamed up with the local government to expand behavioral health services to an astonishing 1.3 million children. Hazel Health’s CEO Josh Golomb highlights the transformative potential of this scale: “Providing access to early intervention services, systematically, at this scale has the potential to change the trajectory for students struggling with mental health across L.A. County.”
These partnerships not only provide immediate access but also emphasize early intervention, which is critical for preventing more severe issues down the line. By integrating telehealth services directly with schools and community resources, the programs promote more equitable care, especially for families who might not otherwise have access due to cost, transportation, or stigma. Together, they are reshaping the landscape of youth mental health digital access nationwide.
Securing Community Buy-In: Awareness and Youth-Centered Design Boost Youth Mental Health Digital Access
For these public-private partnerships to succeed, they must earn the trust and engagement of the communities they serve. That begins with raising awareness so that teens and families know these services are available, free, and confidential.
Talkspace’s campaign in New York City includes outreach through schools, social media, public transit ads, and collaboration with community and child welfare agencies. “We want to ensure that as many teens as possible know this program exists and how to access it,” Dr. Cohen shares.
Another critical component is involving youth directly in the design and rollout of these services. Kelsey Noonan of Pivotal Ventures, an organization investing in social progress including youth mental health, emphasizes starting with the end user: “If you’re developing a clinical care model that’s meant to be done in schools, you need to talk to educators and kids in those schools to understand what those needs are.”
Creating teen focus groups allows providers to better tailor intake questions, communication styles, and therapy modalities to meet young people where they are. For example, teens might prefer text-based chat therapy or video sessions over traditional phone calls, or want certain privacy assurances. This input can significantly improve engagement and outcomes.
Moreover, youth ambassadors can help break down stigma by sharing their positive experiences with peers and families. Dr. Benders-Hadi, Chief Medical Officer at Talkspace, notes, “Having kids talk to their friends or family about accessing care and the outcomes associated with that can go far in reducing stigma and encouraging early help-seeking.”
These strategies help ensure that youth mental health digital access is not only expanded but also meaningful and effective for those it serves.
The Future of Youth Mental Health Digital Access
Public-private partnerships between digital behavioral health companies and public agencies are proving to be a powerful strategy for expanding access to mental health services for youth. By removing financial, geographic, and systemic barriers, these collaborations provide an innovative pathway to reach tens and hundreds of thousands of young people in need.
But success depends not only on technology and funding—it requires ongoing engagement with youth and communities to ensure services are relevant, welcoming, and effective. As more cities and school districts embrace these partnerships, we can hope for a future where behavioral health care is accessible, stigma-free, and integrated into the everyday lives of young people—helping them thrive today and into adulthood through improved youth mental health digital access.
