Lacking Counselors, US Schools Turn to Online Therapy
2023-12-20
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1Public schools in the United States are increasingly employing online mental health services, or teletherapy, for students.
2At least 16 of the 20 largest American public school systems are offering online therapy to reach millions of students, reports the Associated Press.
3In those systems alone, schools have signed provider contracts worth more than $70 million.
4The business model is making so much money that venture capitalists are investing in new companies as the market grows.
5However, some experts have raised concerns about the quality of care offered by fast-growing tech companies.
6But educators say teletherapy works for many kids and is meeting a large need.
7Schools are also experiencing shortages in on-site therapists.
8Online help has made therapy more easily available to children, especially poorer students and those in rural areas.
9Schools let students connect with online counselors during the school day or after hours from home.
10Ishoo is a mother of two in Lancaster, California.
11She struggled to help her second-grade daughter deal with severe anxiety.
12Last spring, her school district started a teletherapy program and Ishoo signed up her daughter.
13During a month of weekly video sessions at her home, the girl opened up to a therapist.
14The therapist gave the student tools and techniques to reduce anxiety.
15"She learned that it's OK to ask for help, and sometimes everyone needs some extra help," Ishoo said.
16The 13,000-student school system, like many others, has counselors and psychologists on staff.
17But it is not enough to meet the need, said Trish Wilson, the Lancaster supervisor of counseling.
18Therapists in the area have full caseloads, making it impossible to offer students immediate care, she said.
19Students rarely have to wait long for an online session.
20Students and their parents said in interviews they turned to teletherapy after struggling with feelings of sadness, loneliness, stress and anxiety.
21For many, returning to in-person school after distance learning was very difficult.
22Schools are using federal pandemic relief money to pay for help as experts have warned of worrying rates of youth depression, anxiety and suicide.
23Many school districts are signing contracts with private companies.
24Others are working with local health care providers, nonprofits or state programs.
25Mental health experts welcome the extra support but warn about possible risks.
26For one, it is getting harder to employ on-site school counselors and psychologists.
27Competition with telehealth providers is not helping.
28"We have 44 counselor vacancies, and telehealth definitely impacts our ability to fill them," said Doreen Hogans.
29She is supervisor of school counseling in Prince George's County, Maryland.
30Hogans estimates 20 percent of school counselors who left have taken teletherapy jobs.
31The jobs often provide more favorable working hours than the schools.
32The quick growth of the companies raises questions about the quality of the therapists, and their experience with children and privacy, said Kevin Dahill-Fuchel.
33He is executive director of Counseling in Schools, a nonprofit that helps schools improve traditional, in-person mental health services.
34One of the biggest providers is San Francisco-based Hazel Health.
35It started with telemedicine health services in schools in 2016 and expanded to mental health in May 2021, CEO Josh Golomb said.
36It now employs more than 300 therapists providing teletherapy in over 150 school districts in 15 states.
37Other providers are getting into the space.
38In November, New York City started a free telehealth therapy service for teens to help end barriers to access, said Ashwin Vasan, the city's health commissioner.
39New York is paying the company TalkSpace $26 million over three years for a service permitting teenagers to download an app and connect with therapists.
40Unlike other cities, New York is offering the service to all teens, whether attending private, public or home schools, or not in school at all.
41"I truly hope this normalizes and democratizes access to mental health care for our young people," Vasan said.
42I'm Dan Novak.
1Public schools in the United States are increasingly employing online mental health services, or teletherapy, for students. 2At least 16 of the 20 largest American public school systems are offering online therapy to reach millions of students, reports the Associated Press. In those systems alone, schools have signed provider contracts worth more than $70 million. 3The business model is making so much money that venture capitalists are investing in new companies as the market grows. However, some experts have raised concerns about the quality of care offered by fast-growing tech companies. 4But educators say teletherapy works for many kids and is meeting a large need. Schools are also experiencing shortages in on-site therapists. Online help has made therapy more easily available to children, especially poorer students and those in rural areas. Schools let students connect with online counselors during the school day or after hours from home. 5Ishoo is a mother of two in Lancaster, California. She struggled to help her second-grade daughter deal with severe anxiety. 6Last spring, her school district started a teletherapy program and Ishoo signed up her daughter. During a month of weekly video sessions at her home, the girl opened up to a therapist. The therapist gave the student tools and techniques to reduce anxiety. 7"She learned that it's OK to ask for help, and sometimes everyone needs some extra help," Ishoo said. 8The 13,000-student school system, like many others, has counselors and psychologists on staff. But it is not enough to meet the need, said Trish Wilson, the Lancaster supervisor of counseling. 9Therapists in the area have full caseloads, making it impossible to offer students immediate care, she said. Students rarely have to wait long for an online session. 10Students and their parents said in interviews they turned to teletherapy after struggling with feelings of sadness, loneliness, stress and anxiety. For many, returning to in-person school after distance learning was very difficult. 11Schools are using federal pandemic relief money to pay for help as experts have warned of worrying rates of youth depression, anxiety and suicide. Many school districts are signing contracts with private companies. Others are working with local health care providers, nonprofits or state programs. 12Mental health experts welcome the extra support but warn about possible risks. For one, it is getting harder to employ on-site school counselors and psychologists. Competition with telehealth providers is not helping. 13"We have 44 counselor vacancies, and telehealth definitely impacts our ability to fill them," said Doreen Hogans. She is supervisor of school counseling in Prince George's County, Maryland. Hogans estimates 20 percent of school counselors who left have taken teletherapy jobs. The jobs often provide more favorable working hours than the schools. 14The quick growth of the companies raises questions about the quality of the therapists, and their experience with children and privacy, said Kevin Dahill-Fuchel. He is executive director of Counseling in Schools, a nonprofit that helps schools improve traditional, in-person mental health services. 15One of the biggest providers is San Francisco-based Hazel Health. It started with telemedicine health services in schools in 2016 and expanded to mental health in May 2021, CEO Josh Golomb said. It now employs more than 300 therapists providing teletherapy in over 150 school districts in 15 states. 16Other providers are getting into the space. In November, New York City started a free telehealth therapy service for teens to help end barriers to access, said Ashwin Vasan, the city's health commissioner. New York is paying the company TalkSpace $26 million over three years for a service permitting teenagers to download an app and connect with therapists. 17Unlike other cities, New York is offering the service to all teens, whether attending private, public or home schools, or not in school at all. 18"I truly hope this normalizes and democratizes access to mental health care for our young people," Vasan said. 19I'm Dan Novak. 20Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press. 21________________________________________________ 22Words in This Story 23venture capital- n. money that is used to start a new business 24counselor - n. a person who provides advice as a job : a person who counsels people 25anxiety - n. fear or nervousness about what might happen 26supervise - v. to be in charge of 27vacancy - n. a job or position that is available to be taken 28impact - n. the act or force of one thing hitting another 29access - n. a way of getting near, at, or to something or someone