NYC’s $26 million Teenspace mental health contract in limbo as officials stay quiet

New York City's $26 million Teenspace mental health contract is currently uncertain, as city officials have remained tight-lipped about their plans for its continuation. Launched under former Mayor Eric Adams in November 2023, Teenspace is a free therapy service for teens, accessible through text, phone, or video chat. The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene signed a three-year, $26 million contract with the platform provider Talkspace.

As of last week, around 52,000 teens had signed up for the service, with approximately 80% being students of color. Many teens were first-time users of therapy through Teenspace. The three-year contract, scheduled to end in September, was extended by two years, according to the city's contract portal. Parent advocates have long criticized the Health Department for not doing enough to safeguard teen privacy on the Teenspace platform, alleging that the platform collects user data and shares it with third parties for marketing purposes without consent.

The Health Department responded by working with Talkspace to create a specific privacy policy for Teenspace after being pressured in 2024. However, neither the city department nor Talkspace would comment on the contract situation. The program's top advocate, former Education Chancellor David Banks, now claims he's unaware of the initiative's current status.

Despite the privacy concerns, youth well-being has shown signs of improvement, with the CDC reporting gains in youth mental health and suicide risk factors in September.