Rural Wisconsin School Districts Collaborate to Expand Mental Health Support for K12 Students

Student mental health leader Uwill provides immediate teletherapy support for K12 students in Abbotsford and Colby School Districts, addressing growing demand

ABBOTSFORD, Wis., Oct. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Students in the Abbotsford and Colby School Districts—two rural Wisconsin districts serving a combined student population which includes a significant number of English Language Learners (ELLs)—will now have access to expanded mental health support through a new partnership with Uwill, the leading mental health and wellness solution for schools and students. The collaboration enables students to access teletherapy from licensed clinicians through a secure platform designed to support parent and family engagement and ensure student privacy.

"Student mental health has become one of the most urgent challenges facing our education system and local schools, with rising levels of anxiety, depression, and stress affecting students' ability to learn and thrive," said Ryan Bargender, Superintendent of Abbotsford School District. "In rural communities like ours, where families often face long wait times or must travel long distances for in-person care, new approaches are essential to meeting the needs of students."

Through this collaboration, students have access to Uwill's platform, which provides an immediate appointment with a licensed counselor based on student needs and preferences. This initiative addresses a critical shortage of mental health services in the region, where local wait times for counseling can stretch four to five months, and school counseling teams are already at capacity.

The Wisconsin Office of Children's Mental Health reports that youth mental health concerns are rising sharply, with a 29% increase in students reporting daily anxiety, a 42% increase in students experiencing depression, and one in four girls saying they have considered suicide. Rural areas also face a critical shortage of health professionals: out of Wisconsin's 72 counties, 40 are federally designated as mental health shortage areas.

"As district leaders, we need to think beyond traditional models of support if we want to ensure every student has a fair chance to succeed—not just academically, but emotionally and socially as well," said Patrick Galligan, Superintendent of Colby School District. "This is about removing barriers and making sure help is available when students need it most."

This collaboration is designed to complement existing school and community-based resources and provide additional mental health support for students. With Uwill, students can schedule same-day appointments, with availability during the day, at night, and during school breaks. Students can select counselors who meet their individual needs and preferences, including language and cultural considerations, through Uwill's proprietary matching technology.

"Students are at the center of today's mental health crisis, but often face challenges accessing the support they need," said Michael London, founder and CEO of Uwill. "Through our matching technology and diverse counselor community, we're helping districts like Abbotsford and Colby provide students with immediacy and choice, removing obstacles so every student has the opportunity to thrive."

Founded in 2020, Uwill partners with more than 500 colleges and 100 K12 districts in all 50 states and 20 countries. Utilizing its proprietary technology and counselor team, Uwill pioneered the first student and therapist matching platform. The solution offers an immediate appointment with a licensed counselor based on student preferences, all modalities of teletherapy, a direct crisis connection 24/7/365, on-demand medical care, prescription management, basic needs support, wellness programming, realtime data, and support.

About Uwill: Uwill attributes its success to supporting every single student as quickly as possible and is the leading mental health and wellness solution for schools. In 2025, Uwill was recognized as the 79th fastest growing private company in the US according to Inc, its second consecutive year in the top 100 (2024 #27). Uwill also ranked as the #1 fastest growing company in the state of Massachusetts by the Boston Business Journal (2025) and the 18th fastest growing company in North America according to Deloitte (2024).  For more information, visit uwill.com.

Contact:
Brett Silk
[email protected]

SOURCE Uwill, Inc