Are Virtual School Mental Health Programs Really Helping Your Teen? Here's What Chicago's $50M Investment Actually Shows

Chicago has made one of the most significant investments in youth mental health in the nation, committing tens of millions of dollars to virtual and in-person mental health services for students. But as families across Chicagoland continue to struggle with rising teen anxiety and depression, many parents are asking: are these programs actually working?

The answer isn't as straightforward as we might hope, but the data tells an important story about both promise and persistent challenges in supporting our young people's mental health.

Understanding Chicago's Mental Health Investment

Chicago Public Schools has taken a multi-pronged approach to addressing the youth mental health crisis. In their FY2023 budget alone, the district invested $30 million specifically to expand the number of counselors and social workers in schools. This included $13 million for mental health supports and trauma-informed interventions, plus another $13 million for additional counselor positions in high-need schools across the city.

But perhaps the most visible change came in March 2025, when CPS launched a major partnership with Hazel Health, providing approximately 110,000 high school students across the district with access to virtual therapy and counseling services. This partnership, supported by additional funding from UnitedHealthcare, represents one of the largest virtual mental health initiatives in the country.

The goal was ambitious: create accessible, immediate mental health support for teens who might otherwise wait months for an appointment or never seek help at all. For many families, especially those in underserved communities, this seemed like the breakthrough they'd been waiting for.

The Promising Results: When Virtual Therapy Works

The early clinical data from Chicago's virtual mental health programs offers genuine hope. Research conducted by Clemson University found that 75% of students who participated in Hazel's online therapy program experienced clinically significant reductions in depression and anxiety after an average of just six sessions.

Think about what that means for a moment: three out of four teens who engaged with virtual therapy saw meaningful improvements in their mental health in a relatively short time. For families who have watched their teenagers struggle with persistent sadness, anxiety, or withdrawal, these numbers represent real possibilities for healing.

The impact extends beyond emotional well-being, too. The data shows that 68% of students who engaged with virtual therapy improved their school attendance, with over 30% achieving zero absences since their referral. This connection between mental health support and academic engagement highlights something we've long known at MHAGC: when we support young people's emotional needs, every other aspect of their lives can improve.

The Reality Gap: Need vs. Access

However, these positive outcomes tell only part of the story. Despite having access to virtual mental health services, actual utilization has been surprisingly modest. As of September 2025: six months after the program launched: only about 250 students had completed approximately 920 sessions out of the 110,000 students with access to the service.

This represents less than one-quarter of one percent of eligible students actually using the programs consistently. When we consider that roughly 40% of high school students in Chicago report feeling persistent sadness and hopelessness, and more than 15% have seriously considered suicide according to the district's annual survey, the gap between need and actual service delivery becomes stark.

So what's happening here? Why aren't more teens accessing services that could genuinely help them?

Barriers to Virtual Mental Health Care

The disconnect between available services and actual usage reflects several challenges that many families in our community face:

Stigma and Awareness: Many teens and families still aren't aware that these services exist, or they may feel hesitant to access mental health support even when it's readily available.

Technology Access: While most students have some access to technology for virtual sessions, reliable internet and private spaces for confidential conversations can be challenges, particularly in overcrowded housing situations.

Cultural Factors: In some communities, there may be cultural preferences for in-person care or concerns about discussing mental health with providers who may not share similar backgrounds or experiences.

Competing Priorities: For families dealing with housing instability, food insecurity, or other immediate crises, mental health care: even when free and accessible: may not feel like the most urgent priority.

The In-Person vs. Virtual Debate

Mental health advocates in Chicago have raised thoughtful questions about whether virtual therapy represents the optimal approach for supporting teens in crisis. Organizations like the Juvenile Protective Association argue that in-person providers with smaller caseloads: around 20 students per therapist: allow for deeper relationships and stronger community connections that young people desperately need.

The numbers here are sobering: while Hazel Health aims for 25 client hours per therapist per week, school social workers nationwide average caseloads exceeding 1,000 students per person, and counselors average 385 students per person. This means even with virtual services, many teens are still struggling to get the consistent, ongoing support they need.

At MHAGC, we've seen how powerful in-person connections can be for young people working through mental health challenges. There's something irreplaceable about sitting in the same room with someone who truly understands your experience, building trust over time, and feeling part of a community that supports your healing.

A Broader National Trend

Chicago isn't alone in turning to virtual mental health solutions. As of the 2023-24 school year, 13 of the 20 largest school districts in the United States added virtual mental health therapy for students, with Hazel Health emerging as the dominant provider, serving 5 million students nationwide across 17 states.

This rapid expansion of virtual services reflects both the severity of the youth mental health crisis and the practical challenges of hiring and retaining enough in-person mental health professionals to meet the need. In many ways, virtual therapy has become a stopgap measure: not necessarily the ideal solution, but one of the few options that can scale quickly enough to address the magnitude of teen mental health struggles.

What This Means for Chicago Families

So what should families in our community take away from Chicago's experience with virtual mental health programs? Here are the key insights:

Virtual therapy can be genuinely effective for teens who engage with it consistently. The clinical outcomes are encouraging and suggest that for some young people, online counseling provides a comfortable, accessible way to get support.

But virtual programs alone aren't enough to address the scope of teen mental health challenges in our community. They're one important tool, but not a complete solution.

The biggest challenge isn't the quality of services: it's connecting young people who need help with the resources that are available. This requires ongoing community education, outreach, and reducing barriers to access.

Building a More Comprehensive Approach

Moving forward, the most effective approach to supporting teen mental health in Chicago will likely combine the accessibility of virtual services with the depth of in-person community support. This means:

• Continuing to expand virtual therapy options while also investing in more school-based counselors and social workers

• Strengthening partnerships between schools and community mental health organizations like MHAGC

• Addressing the broader social factors: housing, food security, safety: that impact young people's mental health

• Engaging families and communities in mental health awareness and support

At MHAGC, we believe that supporting teen mental health requires all of us working together. Virtual therapy programs can be valuable tools, but they work best when they're part of a broader community of care that includes families, schools, community organizations, and mental health professionals all supporting young people's well-being.

Finding Support for Your Teen

If you're a parent or caregiver concerned about your teen's mental health, know that you're not alone, and help is available. Chicago's virtual mental health programs through schools are one option, but they're not the only one.

MHAGC offers resources and referrals for families seeking mental health support throughout the greater Chicago area. We can help you navigate available services, understand your options, and connect with providers who are the right fit for your family's needs.

Remember, seeking mental health support for your teen isn't a sign of failure: it's a sign of love and commitment to their well-being. Whether that support comes through virtual therapy, in-person counseling, community programs, or a combination of approaches, what matters most is that young people know they're valued, supported, and not alone.

The data from Chicago's investment in virtual mental health programs shows us both the possibilities and the ongoing challenges in supporting teen mental health. By working together as a community, we can build on what's working while addressing the gaps that remain, ensuring every young person in our community has the support they need to thrive.

For help connecting with mental health resources for your teen, visit our website at https://www.mhagcusa.org or explore our other resources on supporting young people's mental health in our blog.