By Laura Kyle
This year’s theme for World Mental Health Day is ‘Mental Health in an Unequal World’. Society is still some way from barrier-free access to mental health care, but tech startups are helping us reach that goal.
The theme of this year’s World Mental Health Day on 10 October is ‘Mental Health in an Unequal World’. The World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) created this yearly event in 1992 to raise awareness of mental health issues. Since its beginning three decades ago, awareness is no longer the most significant barrier facing mental health care in most higher-income countries. That doesn’t mean it’s a non-issue; lack of education on the subject and stigmas still exist. However, most people are much more aware of mental illnesses. It’s widely discussed in the media, individuals are becoming more open about their struggles, and awareness campaigns can be found on the walls of schools, workplaces, and beyond.
The work that was done to reinforce the importance of mental health care didn’t create a sufficient increase in access to mental health care. Roughly 1 in 5 adults in the US has a diagnosable mental illness. However, less than 45% of those adults in the US received some form of mental health support in 2019. In India, 80% of the population who need mental health support do not receive it – Mental illnesses and income disparity are on the rise, further growing the list of people who cannot access mental health care.
Lack of adequate mental health support for all has multiplied since early 2020, fuelled by the global Covid-19 pandemic. Healthcare resources were limited while mental illnesses and substance abuse became consequences of grief, financial uncertainty, and stress. Statistics Canada found that of those with prior mental illnesses, 68% have noticed worsening mental health since the beginning of the pandemic.
Is technology the solution to improve mental health?
Innovative tech startups have been developing solutions to close the gap between mental healthcare needs and access for years. The pandemic pushed healthcare issues to the forefront of public awareness: underfunding, access inequality, and misinformation. Leaning on technology to do more with less went from an ambition to a necessity in the present day. Investors agree; according to a report from CB Insights, startup funding for mental health startups doubled in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter in 2020.
Existing and emerging digital tools in the mental health space use a variety of creative solutions to help the users. For example, some startups have moved traditional therapy online to remove physical access barriers. Others provide affordable or free tools that allow users to improve their mental health with AI, gamification, and cognitive behavioural therapy.
Unfortunately, several socio-economic factors create barriers to access that prevent startups from closing that gap entirely. Automated tools will not be enough for many sufferers of mental illness – They often benefit from individual therapy. Though startups like BetterHelp make it more affordable than in-person therapy, it is still out of the financial reach of many. Others simply can’t access digital tools; in lower-income countries, much of the population does not have access to smartphones, computers, or internet connections. This is not an issue limited to only such countries. For example, 19 million Americans lack access to fixed broadband services. That includes 1 in 4 of the rural population and 1 in 3 people living in indigenous communities.
Technology can go a long way in getting mental health care to more people. However, until healthcare is adequately funded and socio-economic barriers to access are fully addressed, many people will continue going without the help they need.
Startups making a difference
Butterflly Health
United States
Stigmas surrounding mental health vary significantly among different communities. When a patient has a therapist who may not be informed of cultural differences and unique factors in the client’s life, it becomes more likely that the therapy will be ineffective.
Butterflly Health is a full-service mental health platform that is centred around intersectional identity. It allows the user to select their community for peer support and receive culturally centred and trauma-informed therapy.
Website: https://butterflly.com/
Headway
United States
A significant barrier to mental health support in the US is the cost. Without insurance, private sessions can run anywhere in price from $100-$300+. Unfortunately, roughly 80% of therapists in the US do not accept insurance which brings the cost of sessions down to $20-$50, greatly limiting the population size that could afford the help.
Most therapists do not accept insurance because of the time-consuming administrative duties required to submit claims. Headway is changing that with their digital platform that connects therapists with insured patients and handles all of the paperwork behind the scene.
You can read more about Headway and how they are helping Americans access therapy here.
Website: https://headway.co/
Wysa
United Kingdom, United States and India
Wysa is an AI chatbot that uses cognitive behavioural techniques, meditation, and exercise to help support and guide users through stress and anxiety.
The anonymous AI chatbot is suitable for anyone over the age of 13 and is available 24/7. It offers emotionally intelligent conversation for judgement-free listening and support. In addition, Wysa helps users learn and practice skills that can assist them in working through their struggles and shows users how to reframe their thoughts from negative to positive.
Check out this article for more information on Wysa.
Website: https://www.wysa.io/
TalkSpace
United States
Talkspace is making one-on-one therapy more affordable by offering a more comprehensive range of support options than is usually available with traditional treatment.
Talkspace matches the client up with a licensed therapist for a weekly flat fee with the basic plan. Users can text with the therapist as often as they would like and receive a response a few times a day. Unlike traditional therapy, where everything needs to be discussed at one time, Talkspace gives people the opportunity to receive support and advice when they need it.
Users can receive weekly video sessions for an additional fee if desired. Psychiatrists are also available for complete evaluations and treatment.
Users can receive weekly video sessions for an additional fee if desired. Psychiatrists are also available for complete evaluations and treatment.
Website: https://www.talkspace.com/
Spring Health
United States
First mental health treatments fail 70% of the time. With hundreds of diagnosable mental health conditions and numerous treatment modalities available, it can be challenging to get the right treatment option on the first try.
Spring Health is developing a solution to make mental health care more efficient through machine learning and precision medicine. First, the program builds a profile on the patient based on their symptoms, family history, socio-demographic info, and more. Then, it compares that information to a vast set of data points and builds a personalised treatment plan based on what worked for patients with similar profiles.
Website: https://www.springhealth.com/
