PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Rhode Island is set to become the first state on the East Coast to implement a telehealth service to expand mental health support for students.

On Thursday, state and school leaders announced a new partnership between the R.I. Department of Education (RIDE) and Hazel Health , a virtual health care provider for K-12 children, as part of an increased effort to combat the ongoing mental health crisis.

According to Hazel Health’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Travis Gayles, more than 75% of students who began using telehealth services saw clinical improvement in significant anxiety or depression symptoms within four to six sessions.

Hazel Health enables students to connect with health care professionals via video for medical advice, over-the-counter treatments, prescriptions, and therapy session referrals.

The service, which will be available to 130,000 students aged eight and above, aims to break down mental and emotional barriers to learning. Accessible from both home and school, care will be offered at no out-of-pocket cost, regardless of insurance status.

Set to launch before the end of the year, the program is designed to complement, not replace, existing mental health services, enhancing students’ ability to focus and thrive academically.

“We all need a safe space, including children. If you’re hungry, you can’t learn. If you are having trouble communicating, you can’t learn. If your mental health issues are not being addressed, you can’t learn,” Jerry Larkin, director of the R.I. Department of Health, said.

RIDE Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green said the service is also intended to improve student attendance and emotional behavior.

“We know that there is a clear end between mental health challenges, attending school and academic achievement,” Infante-Green said. “But students can’t learn if they are not in school.”

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