Virtual Care Company Teladoc has partnered with pediatric virtual behavioral health company Brightline to expand mental health care options for children, adolescents and their families through Teladoc’s platform.
Brightline provides virtual behavioral health services to children and their families. The company partners with employers and major insurance companies to provide accessible coaching and therapy services.
Through this partnership, members under the age of 18 and their caregivers will be able to access Brightline’s mental health care solutions for a range of conditions through Teladoc’s virtual “front door.”
Teladoc previously offered services to individuals aged 13 and above. With this partnership, the company will expand its offering to include virtual mental health care services for individuals ages 0-13.
Demand for addressing young people’s mental health needs is coming from health plans and employers, said Dr. Vidya Raman Tangela, Teladoc’s chief medical officer. MobiHealthNews.
“They’re asking us, ‘What about the young people? What about the young people? What about the children?'” says Dr. Raman Tangela, “And it’s amazing to see problems we’re seeing today that we weren’t seeing five or 10 years ago.”
In the United States, approximately 20% of children and adolescents ages 3 to 17 have an emotional, mental, behavioral or developmental disorder, and research has shown that suicidal behavior among high school students increased by 40% in the 10 years leading up to 2019. NIH report.
“These people will now have access to this powerful service,” said Myra Altman, Brightline’s chief clinical officer. MobiHealthNews.
“When there are so many benefits out there and people don’t know which ones they can use, it can get confusing. I think a lot of times people don’t know where to look, so having one streamlined place where they can look and get guided is really helpful.”
Dr Raman Tangela says it’s not enough to just look after children and teenagers – companies need to think about continuity of care and look after families too.
“Families and caregivers have their own ups and downs. How many of you know someone who has a child who is going through a difficult time? You can see the stress in the mother’s eyes. We want to be able to care for our children,” she said.
The companies said the adolescent mental health services will complement Teladoc and Brightline’s current services, allowing for continuity of care and supporting families struggling to meet the needs of these children.
“I know kids who have a hard time getting mental health care, so expanding access to that type of care is really important and worthwhile,” Dr. Raman Tangela said.
Youth mental health services will be available to select customers through Teladoc’s platform in 2024, with a broader rollout to the general public in 2025.
