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Over the past two years, 70% of schools have experienced increased demands for mental health services. Wait times for appointments can extend up to six week, with some families waiting months or even years for specialized care. 

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In response, schools have hired counselors, partnered with local health services, and used referral agencies to expand what’s available to students. Despite these efforts, only 12% of districts “strongly agree” that they can meet the mental health needs of all students. These gaps in care disproportionately impact low-income, rural, and uninsured students while exacerbating challenges with student engagement, absenteeism, and academic performance. 

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To combat these challenges, nearly 20% of districts have introduced some form of telehealth into their MTSS model, with many seeing overwhelmingly positive results. In some cases, virtual care has become a preferred option over traditional, in-person models.

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A Viable Option for Expanding Access to Mental Health Care

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While teletherapy is relatively new in the K-12 context, it is a highly-effective option for closing gaps in mental health care. Partnering with accredited telebehavioral health providers can expand district capacity in several ways:

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Robust clinical efficacy

Telebehavioral health bolsters systems of student support by facilitating enhanced collaboration and communication between therapists, school staff, students, and families. By utilizing telebehavioral health services, schools can reduce the caseload burden on staff, while ensuring that students receive the individualized attention and support they deserve.

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Equal or better student engagement

Given their familiarity with technology, children and teenagers often find teletherapy more comfortable, which can lead to more effective and open discussions about mental health. This ease of use can make mental health services more approachable and less intimidating compared to in-person sessions.

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Shorter wait times

Telebehavioral health enhances the speed at which individuals can connect with mental health professionals. It facilitates rapid access to care, proving to be an efficient alternative to traditional methods that often require more time and resources.

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Increased access

Telehealth eliminates the need for travel, saving time and money for individuals. This is a benefit that is especially appreciated in rural areas or for families with limited access to reliable transportation. . Telehealth enables patients to connect with licensed clinicians from anywhere, allowing students to be matched with providers based on ‘fit’ not just those who are geographically close.

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Greater financial equity

By offering greater financial equity, telehealth ensures that quality care is accessible to all, regardless of geographical location or economic status. By breaking down the traditional barriers of in-network provider restrictions, telehealth enables families and educational institutions to access a wider range of mental health services, fostering a more equitable health care landscape.

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More diverse clinical workforce

The flexibility of telehealth ensures that students can connect with culturally responsive, multilingual clinicians who offer care in each student’s native language. Through telehealth, students and their families may select a provider whose clinical specialty aligns with their specific mental health needs.

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When Teletherapy isn’t the Right Choice

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Research has shown telehealth to be a safe, equitable, and highly effective treatment option for many students. Notably, children engaging in teletherapy have demonstrated strong clinical relationships with their providers, coupled with a higher rate of attendance at appointments, suggesting the flexibility offered by telehealth significantly enhances patient engagement. 

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But there are instances where a virtual approach to care may not be the right option for students.

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• Insufficient Oversight: Supervision and safety during teletherapy sessions can be a concern, particularly for parents, caregivers, and school counselors, who may find it difficult to ensure that the therapy environment is secure and conducive to treatment.
• Limited Access to Technology: When children receive care outside of school settings, issues such as insufficient technology resources or unreliable Wi-Fi access can impede the effectiveness of telehealth services. These technical barriers can limit the accessibility and continuity of care, especially in underserved areas where there is more compromised digital infrastructure.
• Acute Mental Health Conditions: While telehealth is suitable for many situations, it may not be the ideal solution for all conditions. Specific cases, such as those involving primary substance use disorders or individuals experiencing active psychosis, may require the immediacy and physical presence of in-person care to effectively manage and treat the condition.

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In these cases, teletherapy can be used to support students who don’t have these limitations, freeing up in-person support for students who wouldn’t receive it otherwise. 

Another Tool to Address the Youth Mental Health Crisis  

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Despite these challenges, telehealth is a promising solution for augmenting mental health services in school districts. Its ability to provide accessible, timely, and cost-effective care, makes it a valuable component of a comprehensive mental health strategy, especially when integrated alongside traditional in-person services. 

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This evolution in mental health services has enabled schools to effectively address existing care deficiencies and extend their support capabilities, fostering a thriving environment for both students and staff. While the responsibility for student mental health extends beyond schools, these innovations can play a meaningful role curbing the youth mental health crisis and helping kids get back to being kids. 

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 1. Johns Hopkins 2022, National Institutes for Health 2023, Rafiq & Merrell, 2005

2. John Hopkins 2022