City Of Reno Rolls Out Free Mental Health Services For Residents To Help With Coronavirus Crisis

Press release from the City of Reno:

January 28, 2021

More than 200,000 residents in Reno, ages 13+, now have access to free virtual mental health support in a first-of-its-kind collaboration between Talkspace, a leading provider of tele-mental health services, and the City of Reno. Funded directly through CARES Act dollars unanimously approved by the Reno City Council, the program offers residents unlimited private messaging (text, voice, video) and one monthly video appointment with a private therapist from Talkspace. The support arrives at a critical juncture as Reno residents confront a resurgent COVID-19 pandemic that threatens lives and families and upends schools and the local economy.

“People are crying out for help in this moment of crisis as they experience loneliness, anxiety, grief and more. Amid this public health pandemic, we face a mental health epidemic too, and expanding access to mental health care is absolutely vital,” said Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve. “No one should be denied access to mental health care based on ability to pay and I strongly encourage our city’s residents to take advantage of these free services from Talkspace.”

With an increasing number of Nevadans reporting mental health concerns, accessible support options have become crucial. Shortly after the vote to approve funds for the program, Talkspace’s services were made available to city employees, including police and firefighters. Within the first weeks, hundreds signed up with a significant portion looking for anxiety-related services.

Reno residents can register for Talkspace through a 2-step process. First, visit talkspace.com/reno to complete an access request form. Within 1-2 business days, residents who have submitted the request access form will receive an email response from Talkspace with a unique user link to complete registration. Talkspace is not a crisis service. For an emergency or life-threatening service, residents should call 911.

"As the pandemic takes its unrelenting toll on people’s mental and physical health, it’s clear that help is urgently needed and access is more important than ever,” said Talkspace Chief Medical Officer Dr. Neil Leibowitz. “With this partnership with the City of Reno and Hopeful Cities, Talkspace continues its quest to make critical mental health care accessible to all. We are honored to serve the people of Reno when it matters most."

Local therapists have also been invited to join the Talkspace network to help them connect to new clients and provide care through a secure, virtual platform. Interested providers can visit talkspace.com/join-our-network/therapist for more details.

This press release was produced by the City of Reno. The views expressed are the author's own.