The pandemic’s impact looms largely especially when it comes to mental health. Many students feel isolated and anxious – especially the older students who also face the daily challenges of being a teenager. NYC Teenspace is a new initiative by the city’s Health Department that lets any 13-17-year-olds living in New York City receive free online mental health support. 

“I think we can all benefit from this because it never hurts to talk to someone about your feelings whether it’s your friends, family, or even a professional like in Teenspace,” Sofia Suleymanov, a junior at FLHS said. 

Francis Lewis High School’s PTA sent out an email from Chancellor David C. Banks, where families were introduced to NYC Teenspace and were given links to learn more and sign up. 

“I want to spread the word far and wide about NYC Teenspace, a groundbreaking new initiative offered through the city’s Health Department and powered by Talkspace,” the email stated. “Through NYC Teenspace, any 13- to 17-year-old living in New York City can receive free, online mental health support, provided by licensed therapists in over 30 languages (and with translation available in many more).”

According to the World Health Organization, adolescence is a formative time when teenagers experience physical, emotional, and social changes such as adopting healthy sleep patterns and developing coping and problem-solving skills. However, this is also a time when teenagers are more vulnerable to social exclusion, risk-taking behaviors, and educational difficulties resulting in mental health issues. Teenspace could be a place where these matters can be addressed and teens can get advice and guidance on how to handle these issues. 

“I feel this would benefit the high school students because many high schoolers struggle with anxiety and depression due to school so this program will help students improve their mental health,” freshman Paulina Ntouvas* said. “Personally, I think everyone could benefit from this because everyone deals with anxiety like it’s a part of you and this program will help you control it better.” 

The State of Pediatric Mental Health in America Report for 2023 highlighted how 16% of teens have reported having at least one major depressive episode in the past year and 60% of teens don’t receive any mental health treatments. Additionally, 1 in 10 students with private insurance aren’t able to afford or cannot access safe care for mental health or emotional difficulties. 

“I think that this program would be helpful to students because they can express themselves and release their frustrations either with school or in their personal lives,” junior Amaris Olazabal said. “They can have a free safe space to say what they need or want to say which can benefit their mental health.”

More than 95% of teens spend most of their daily lives in school and school-based activities could make a profound difference in the lives of teens. Having safe and trusted adults like mentors or guidance could create a “school connectedness” similar to Teenspace’s initiative of supporting student’s social and emotional well-being. 

“Since COVID-19 I have seen a slight change in my mental health where I tend to feel more anxious about going to school and taking a test,” Suleymanov added. “People may use this program if it is recommended by a guidance counselor or parent because they may not realize that they are struggling with these mental illnesses.” 

Talkspace, the program that created NYC Teenspace, represented a breakthrough for modern psychotherapy called “telemedicine” as they use technology to aid their clients. Their users can message their licensed therapists from the Talkspace app at any time of day.

“People might use these services to share how they feel without feeling judged,” Olazabal said. “I feel like teenagers especially are very insecure when it comes to sharing their feelings with their peers so Teenspace would be a perfect place to do this. However, some might not use these services because they could be scared to open up to a stranger. I know that I would be nervous to talk to someone I don’t know due to my shyness.”

Teenspace offers students licensed therapists who specialize in teens virtually, so students don’t have to worry about commuting or scheduling their next appointments. However, this new initiative hasn’t been advertised around the school, leading to many students not knowing that these services are available. 

“People could pass out flyers like how they did with the gingerbread competition like pass it around, in libraries, attach it to the board outside of the S.O., or maybe say it in the announcements,” Ntouvas noted. 

If you or anyone you know, ages 13-17 are struggling with mental health and need someone to talk to, know that this service is available to you and you can access it with the link provided below. 

https://www.talkspace.com/coverage/nyc

*Editors Note: Paulina Ntouvas is the reporter’s sister