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YouWill urges teletherapy pilot to expand mental health access for Michigan veterans
Summary
Representatives from YouWill asked the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military and Veterans Affairs to pilot a two-year teletherapy program for veterans, citing elevated suicide rates and access gaps; presenters described crisis-response features, multi‑modality care and an estimated per‑veteran cost.
Chairman Robinson and committee members heard from Adam Ring, a representative of the mental health platform YouWill, who urged Michigan to pilot a two‑year teletherapy initiative providing veterans flexible, low‑barrier access to licensed clinicians.
Ring said YouWill supports about 3,000,000 individuals worldwide and proposed a teletherapy pilot that would provide registered Michigan veterans with scheduled telecounseling and immediate crisis connections. “My name is Adam Ring, and I represent YouWill, a leading mental health and wellness platform platform supporting over 3,000,000 individuals worldwide,” Ring said.
Ring told the subcommittee Michigan is home to roughly 500,000 veterans and cited U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs data on elevated veteran suicide rates. He said fewer than half of veterans in need receive mental health treatment and that barriers include long waits, geographic limits and stigma. “Teletherapy is not a silver bullet, but it is a proven and practical solution to bridge these gaps in care and give veterans the care and support they need,” Ring said.
Why it matters: Ring argued a modest state investment could increase access statewide, especially in rural counties where provider supply is thin. He described two program components: a scheduled telecounseling service (UMatch) and an immediate crisis connection service (UHelp) that he said can connect a veteran with a licensed counselor in under 30 seconds.
Key details and recommendations: Ring suggested a two‑year pilot that would offer free teletherapy to covered veterans, coordinate outreach with the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency and community veteran organizations, allow veterans to register and schedule independently, and track outcomes with anonymized usage data. He estimated a “modest annual investment of roughly $10 per covered veteran.”
Committee questions focused on implementation: Representative Rogers noted Michigan has codified telehealth coverage in state statute and asked where YouWill is based; Ring said the company is based in Natick, Massachusetts, and he is based near New York City. Representative Cabot raised concerns about rural broadband access; Ring recommended multiple modalities (video, phone, chat, asynchronous messaging) so veterans without high‑speed internet can still use phone or messaging services.
Ring and the committee discussed crisis response and clinical oversight. Ring said UHelp is a crisis connection staffed by licensed clinicians trained in trauma and crisis care. He emphasized coordinated outreach with local organizations and veteran service groups to increase utilization if the state funds a program.
What the subcommittee did: The presentation was a request for consideration and did not produce any formal action, motion, or vote on a teletherapy program during the hearing.
Ending note: Ring encouraged a competitive grant process to identify vendors for a pilot and offered to share anonymized outcome metrics if Michigan pursues a trial.
