Bend Health, the Madison, Wisconsin–based virtual pediatric mental health startup, is expanding its scope of care to include young adults up to age 25. Founded in 2021, Bend Health originally focused on children and adolescents through age 17, partnering with pediatricians to deliver behavioral health services based on a collaborative care model. This extension reflects the evolving needs of both patients and healthcare partners, changes in insurance coverage rules, and the rapidly growing mental health challenges faced by young adults today.
Meeting a Growing Need for Continuity of Care Beyond Pediatrics
Monika Roots, co-founder and president of Bend Health, shared in an exclusive interview with Behavioral Health Business the motivation behind this strategic expansion: “We didn’t want the experience to end for an 18-year-old, especially when they were benefiting from our services today. Being able to continue with them through the age of 18 and upwards was a really important decision for us to make.”
The pediatric age range traditionally capped at 17 left a gap in continuity of care for many young people. Pediatricians collaborating with Bend Health have increasingly requested mental health services for patients beyond this cutoff, especially as patients age into young adulthood — a period marked by significant life changes such as higher education, entering the workforce, and gaining independence.
Further, insurance coverage patterns are shifting in ways that support this change. Many young adults remain on their parents’ health insurance plans well into their 20s, courtesy of the Affordable Care Act, which mandates dependent coverage up to age 26. This allows for continued access to pediatric providers and integrated behavioral health services, which Bend Health strives to deliver seamlessly through its virtual pediatric mental health platform.
Addressing the Complex Mental Health Landscape for Young Adults
Young adulthood is a pivotal life stage, often fraught with emotional stress, social challenges, and transitions that can exacerbate mental health issues. Roots highlighted the unique challenges today’s young adults face, especially the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing measures: “We’re seeing a lot of pain, suffering, and stress in higher education today. Many young adults really struggle with the transition into being more independent.”
The pandemic has intensified feelings of isolation, anxiety, and uncertainty for this population, compounding pre-existing challenges such as academic pressures, identity development, and navigating new social environments. Bend Health believes its proven collaborative care approach, honed through pediatric care, can provide meaningful support during this critical time. “We knew that if we brought our formula, our secret sauce for care, into that age range, we would be able to have a significant opportunity to support them,” Roots said.
Through its virtual pediatric mental health services, Bend Health is uniquely positioned to address these needs with accessible, coordinated care that spans the crucial transition from adolescence to adulthood.
Innovative Programming for Life Stage Transitions: The “Road Trip of Life”
Expanding services to young adults required Bend Health to develop tailored programming that supports the specific developmental needs of this age group. One key innovation is the “Road Trip of Life” program, designed to guide patients and their families through the transition to adulthood.
This program focuses on helping young adults build independence and self-management skills while preparing parents to adjust their role from active caretakers to supportive cheerleaders. Roots explained, “You have to go from being the manager or the coach — always knowing what your child’s doing, managing their schedule, everything — to now being in the crowd, cheering them on.”
This shift is challenging both for young adults and their families. The program offers structured support and resources to ease this transition and help maintain family involvement in care, which research shows is often key to successful outcomes. This kind of thoughtful programming is a core component of Bend Health’s virtual pediatric mental health care model.
Balancing Privacy With Family Engagement
Expanding to adult patients also brings legal and ethical considerations, especially around patient privacy. Under U.S. law, adult patients have the right to privacy protections that differ from pediatric patients. Bend Health has invested in ensuring its platform meets these requirements while still allowing caregivers to be involved as appropriate and with patient consent.
Roots noted that the company’s platform and patient terms are designed to strike a balance: “Adult patients receive the privacy assurances afforded by American law, but our platform still enables caretakers to remain involved in care for young adults, when appropriate.” This flexibility is a critical feature that differentiates Bend Health’s virtual pediatric mental health services from many other providers who serve young adults but do so in a siloed way that excludes family participation.
Entering a Competitive Yet Fragmented Market
The young adult mental health space is attracting significant attention, with numerous digital health companies offering services targeted to college students and young adults. Competitors such as TimelyCare (formerly TimelyMD), UWill, and UpLift, as well as hybrid intensive outpatient programs like Lightfully Behavioral Health’s college-focused initiative, are all vying for market share.
However, Roots points out that much of this care remains siloed from traditional pediatric or adult behavioral health systems and often lacks meaningful caregiver involvement or integration with primary care providers. “There are a lot of solutions. You’re absolutely right,” she said. “But there are very few solutions that have evidence to support that they actually work.”
Bend Health aims to differentiate itself by leveraging its evidence-backed collaborative care model, which integrates closely with trusted pediatric providers and maintains a continuum of care as patients transition into adulthood. Their virtual pediatric mental health platform is designed to provide a comprehensive, family-inclusive approach that spans the full age spectrum they serve.
Funding and Growth: Building a Comprehensive Virtual Behavioral Health Platform
Bend Health stepped out of stealth mode in March 2023 after raising $32 million across seed and Series A funding rounds. Investors include prominent venture capital firms such as Maveron, SteelSky Ventures, and WVV Capital. This capital infusion supports both the expansion of the patient base and development of new service offerings.
In July 2023, Bend Health announced a new virtual neuropsychological evaluation service aimed at addressing a longstanding gap in behavioral health diagnostics. Limited access to such diagnostic services remains a systemic issue, and Bend Health’s telehealth model aims to improve accessibility and equity in care.
Their ongoing innovation further strengthens the company’s virtual pediatric mental health services and their ability to meet a wide range of patient needs.
Looking Ahead: Supporting Young People Through Critical Years
The expansion of Bend Health’s services to young adults reflects a broader trend in behavioral health to provide seamless, evidence-based care across life stages. By extending pediatric collaborative care to young adults, Bend Health is poised to meet an urgent need for mental health support during a complex and often vulnerable time.
With its innovative “Road Trip of Life” program, caregiver-inclusive platform, and expanding virtual pediatric mental health services, Bend Health is uniquely positioned to help young people navigate the challenges of growing independence, educational pressures, and emotional well-being. As mental health needs continue to surge among youth and young adults, Bend Health’s comprehensive approach offers hope for improved outcomes and continuity of care.
