VBCPS is launching free, unlimited teletherapy for grades 6–12, giving about 35,000 students after-hours counseling and 24/7 crisis access through Uwill.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Virginia Beach City Public Schools is expanding access to mental health care for thousands of students. The division rolling out a free, unlimited teletherapy program that is built to reach kids who need help outside the traditional school day.
The program, in partnership with student mental health and wellness platform Uwill, is available to students in grades 6 through 12– which Uwill says amounts to roughly 35,000 students. Appointments are offered after school, at night, on weekends, and during school breaks.
“Anyone can sign up or register very passively,” said VBCPS Executive Director of Student Support Services Robert Jamison. “It tries to eliminate some of the stigma.”
The announcement comes as youth mental health remains a growing concern across Virginia. According to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly four in ten high school students in the U.S. said they experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.
“We have an opportunity to fill a gap, to make mental health resources a little more accessible in a different format,” Jamison said, noting that the division aims to reach students who may not go to a counselor’s office or who need access when school staff aren’t available.
According to Uwill, students can request same-day sessions and select therapists based on preferences such as language, background, or experience with concerns like anxiety or trauma.
The sessions are also unlimited, meaning there is no set cap on the number of visits a student can schedule.
“There is no ‘you’ve reached your limit’,” Jamison said. “I want our students and families to feel supported from beginning to end.”
In urgent situations, Uwill CEO Michael London said students can connect with a licensed, trauma-trained clinician almost immediately.
“They can talk to a licensed therapist trained in trauma within 30 seconds,” he said. “It can be the difference between life and death.”
The program is part of former Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin’s Right Help, Right Now initiative, a statewide effort focused on getting people connected to behavioral health care before, during, and after a crisis.
Mental Health America’s latest rankings show Virginia continues to lag behind many states in youth mental health access, which is data many advocates point to when calling for expanded services.
Jamison also noted that the division’s model is designed to add options for students, not replace school-based counselors and mental health staff.
“There are times that the needs of students exceed the capacity of those… who are in the building,” he said. “It takes a combination of resources for students to be successful.”
Jamison said the program is currently in a soft launch phase with broader awareness and promotion expected later this school semester. He added that families should watch for school communications and campus materials, including instructions on how students can sign up and access services.
Meanwhile, London said Uwill continues to focus on how quickly students can get help once they reach out.
“We’re giving them a level of immediacy that they wouldn’t be able to get anywhere else,” he said. “We’re never turning somebody away.”
Parent/guardian consent is required for students under 18 to enroll in VBCPS’ teletherapy program.
Anyone who needs immediate help can call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). In an emergency, call 911.