Two years ago, the city of Seattle signed a $2 million contract with Talk Space to provide free virtual therapy to young people. The city projected that as many as 4,400 young people would use it. But a few years into the contract, it’s only reached a fraction of that. Seattle Times reporter Jayati Ramakrishnan and Rebecca Plevin with Proof News teamed up to tell this story.

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Two years ago, the city of Seattle signed a $2 million contract with Talk Space to provide free virtual therapy to young people.&nbsp;The city projected that as many as 4,400 young people would use it.&nbsp;But a few years into the contract, <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/mental-health/seattles-talkspace-deal-for-youth-therapy-falls-short/">it&rsquo;s only reached a fraction of that</a>.&nbsp;Seattle Times reporter Jayati Ramakrishnan and Rebecca Plevin with Proof News <a href="https://www.proofnews.org/millions-spent-few-served-seattles-talkspace-deal-for-youth-therapy-falls-short/">teamed up to tell this story</a>.
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We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. <a href="https://donate.kuow.org/donate/seattlenow">Tap here</a> to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed.&nbsp;
Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:seattlenow@kuow.org">seattlenow@kuow.org</a>, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or <a href="https://www.kuow.org/feedback">leave us feedback online</a> or on <a href="https://meet.kuow.org/question/">the KUOW App.</a>

Seattle Now is KUOW's flagship daily news podcast. Seattle Now brings you quick headlines, smart analysis, and award-winning local news. New episodes every weekday morning and afternoon. Start and end your day with Seattle Now, from KUOW and the NPR Network.

Seattle Now is KUOW's flagship daily news podcast. Seattle Now brings you quick headlines, smart analysis, and award-winning local news. New episodes every weekday morning and afternoon. Start and end your day with Seattle Now, from KUOW and the NPR Network.

Seattle Now

Two years ago, the city of Seattle signed a $2 million contract with Talk Space to provide free virtual therapy to young people. The city projected that as many as 4,400 young people would use it. But a few years into the contract, it’s only reached a fraction of that. Seattle Times reporter Jayati Ramakrishnan and Rebecca Plevin with Proof News teamed up to tell this story.