Family of Suicide Victim Reaches Confidential Settlement with Online Therapy Provider, BetterHelp

Attorneys Mark W. Tanner and Reginald L. Streater secured a confidential settlement for a university student who died by suicide after reaching out for help with his mental health crisis by contacting the heavily advertised online therapy provider, BetterHelp. Despite expressed written complaints of suicidal ideation provided by the student at the initial point of contact, these concerns were never acknowledged, addressed or treated in any way by the assigned therapist. The patient was never assessed for his suicide risk. Tragically, after several therapy sessions which failed to acknowledge his expressed suicidal ideation or the severity of his condition, this young man took his own life.