NYC’s $26 million Teenspace mental health contract in limbo as officials stay quiet
This story was initially published in Healthbeat, public health, explained. Sign up to receive Healthbeat’s free New York City newsletter here . One of New York City’s more high-profile efforts to tackle the youth mental health crisis after the pandemic appears to be in limbo, and Health Department officials refuse to say whether they plan to renew a service that has drawn scrutiny. Teenspace launched under former Mayor Eric Adams in November 2023 to provide local teens with free therapists by text, phone, or video chat. The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene signed a three-year contract for $26 million with the platform. Roughly 52,000 teens had signed up for Teenspace as of last week, Health Department officials told Chalkbeat. About 80% were students of color, they added. Teletherapy services such as Teenspace are hailed as an innovative way to help teens confront stress, anxiety, and depression in a way that feels comfortable for them: by texting. For some New York City teens, the platform was their first encounter with a therapist. The Teenspace website says the program will run through November 2026. The contract with Talkspace, the New York-based company that oversees Teenspace, was scheduled to end in September
