Restoration News announced in an article that Virginia Beach City Public Schools hired Uwill Mental Health to provide telehealth counseling for grades 6–12, including LGBTQ+ affirming services, with parental consent required only for students under 14—raising concerns about parental rights and state-law compliance.
According to Restoration News, the memorandum of understanding between the school district and Uwill indicates that 25 percent of the counselors identify as LGBTQIA+ and specialize in sexual identity issues. The article highlights discrepancies between district statements and documents concerning consent requirements and service timing. It also references state law that mandates policies for telehealth implementation, including parental consent provisions.
Voices for Virginia’s Children reported that in 2022, approximately 20.2 percent of youths aged 12 to 17 in Virginia experienced a major depressive episode within the past year. The organization notes that state budget proposals aim to expand school-based mental health services through community partnerships and telehealth initiatives to address access barriers.
The Trevor Project revealed that 56 percent of LGBTQ young people who sought mental health care in the past year were unable to access it, with a significant barrier being the reluctance to obtain parental permission. Nationally, there are ongoing challenges in accessing mental health services despite high demand among this population.
Restoration News is affiliated with Restoration of America, an organization focused on investigative reporting from a conservative perspective on topics such as education, immigration, and military issues. It aims to expose government overreach while promoting traditional values and collaborates with America First groups to advocate for policy reforms.
