Last week, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) announced its partnership with Talkspace, a virtual therapy platform, to provide free mental health services to “justice-impacted” teens.
NCDHHS defines a justice-impacted teen as someone who has been personally detained/court involved, has a lived experience as a victim of a crime or is otherwise identified as at risk (e.g., having incarcerated family members).
Funded by an $835 million investment focused on mental health transformation from the North Carolina General Assembly (NCGA), this partnership aligns with NCDHHS’ goal to improve access to mental health care in North Carolina.
A cry for help from teens in the NC justice system
The most recent report from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety (NCDPS) shows that the average daily population at juvenile detention centers statewide was 363, placing many juvenile detention centers over capacity. On average, those juveniles stayed for a commitment length of 12.4 months.
According to NCDHHS, young people involved in the North Carolina justice system are deeply struggling with their mental health. Recent data shows that almost 100% of those in youth development centers had at least one mental health diagnosis — more than half of which were a substance use disorder.
Additionally, youth involved in the justice system are at higher risk for increased psychological distress, trauma, adult criminal activity, lower education attainment, and difficulty finding employment.
“There is an urgent need for youth-focused solutions to help young people involved in the justice system get the care they need so they can thrive in their homes and communities,” said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai.
Previous backlash against NCDHHS’ handling of mental health
The launch of this initiative comes shortly after NCDHHS was caught in a lawsuit which claimed it did not provide “timely and adequate” resources to inmates struggling with mental health issues.
The group Disability Rights North Carolina filed the suit in April 2024 against the NCDHHS, and a magistrate judge issued an opinion allowing that lawsuit to move forward in June 2025.
The lawsuit alleged that DHHS “is responsible for, but has failed to provide timely and adequate capacity assessments and restoration services to pretrial detainees who are suspected of, or adjudicated to be, incapable to proceed to trial due to mental health disabilities or cognitive disabilities,” US Magistrate Judge Joe Webster explained in his 58-page opinion.
How it works
Teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 in North Carolina are now able to utilize the online platform for free. Those who visit the website or download the app will be put in touch with a trained mental health professional. Additionally, the teen can be matched to their clinician by age, culture, gender, etc.
To receive immediate access, users must be given a referral keyword provided by court counselors, case managers, or other official partners. The 24/7 text, audio and video access is available for users, as well as self-guided activities.
Talkspace offers different subscription plans with prices ranging from $69 to $120 per week, or roughly $276 to $480 per month. Costs vary based on the type of therapy chosen and whether insurance covers the service.
The platform takes an unconventional approach to therapy by offering asynchronous services to users that do not require a scheduled appointment.
“Increasing access to treatment is critical for justice-involved youth. Tele-mental health does this by meeting youth and families where they are and allows for immediate therapy from culturally responsive providers in a comfortable format,” said Kelly Crosbie MSW, LCSW, NCDHHS Director of the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services.
As social media and internet use become increasingly embedded in daily life, Talkspace aims to provide a timely and tailored mental health service designed specifically to meet the needs of today’s youth in North Carolina.
“This collaboration marks a meaningful expansion of our work with youth — reaching them in a new context, at a critical moment, and reinforcing our commitment to equitable care for all,” said Cohen.
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Author: Kerri Carswell
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