Mental Health startups
I did not watch a movie describing the COVID-19 crisis yet, and i do not know if there is a director who can show how tragic and painful quarantine and isolation were for some people. Mental health problems where there already but COVID-19 amplified their effects on some people, pain and emotional distress rose during the crisis and professionals started developing solutions to help solve the problem.
There is certainly a big demand for mental health services and not necessarily from a medical prospective, the most common problem came from a lack of behavioral skills or knowledge, people simply do not know, do not understand or are dis-informed.
This post is about mental health startups, the recent trends are influenced by the COVID-19 crisis and of course there is an opportunity for :
• mobile app solution,
• distant counseling,
• wearable technology,
• serving specific population like : athlete, caregivers, teachers,...
Digital mental health
Anxiety app
On the 5 October 2021, NEW VENTURES BC twitted ROOTD as the winner of the innovate BC Social venture prize with CA$ 7,000 rogers communications in-kind prize package. ROOTD is a mobile app that seek to help people suffering from panic attack & anxiety by offering : relief, understanding, short term lessons, long term lessons.
ROOTD was founded in 2017, a time when very few people where expecting the 2019 COVID-19 pandemic, like ZOOM founded in 2011, they unexpectedly benefited from the pandemic. They also where ready to help people solve problems considered secondary at the beginning of 2018.
App-based psychotherapy
On the 16 November 2021, INNOVATION WORLD CUP published an article announcing INVIRTO by SYMPATIENT as the 2nd place winner of MEDICA start-up competition with a EUR 3,500 prize. INVIRTO by SYMPATIENT is an app-based psychotherapy, mobile VR & tele-health treatment for anxiety.
Well-being tracker app
On the 25 March 2021, MIT EF PAN ARAB twitted uMore as a winner of MITEF Arab startup competition 14th edition in the ideas track. Umore is an AI powered mental well-being tracker that helps you build positive habits, change behavior and share how well you are doing with friends, family and doctors.
uMore is the result of a combination of skills of behavioral scientists, designers and programmers seeking a solution to emotional distress resulting from COVID-19 quarantine and isolation.
Peer support app.
On the 28 June 2021, ERA the entrepreneurs round table accelerator published an article announcing VERY REAL HELP as a participant for its summer 2021 program receiving US$100,000 investment. VERY REAL HELP is an anonymous mental health peer support platform that provides 24/7 access to real-time peer groups and communities support.
Wearable
Headset-based therapy
On the 23 June 2022, COLLISION CONF published an article announcing DOT MIND UNLOCKED as the winner of COLLISION'S PITCH COMPETITION. DOT MIND UNLOCKED developed a headset that read brainwaves, the data collected is than used to personalize therapy using artificial intelligence.
Garment for anxiety
On a competition called spark tank pitch, organised the 13th February 2022, NEU has been announced as one of the winners. NEU developed a startup idea around garment made with a special fabric called OMNIFIBER.
NEU was developed to serve people suffering form anxiety attacks by helping regulate breathing symptoms of mental health conditions.
Population specific
Athlete mental health
On the 13 January 2022, Arizona state university's global sport institute published a video on YouTube announcing TIMEOUT APP as a winner of venture challenge with US$15,000 prize. TIMEOUT gives athletes access to a app-based mental health programming.
Caregivers
On the 17 December 2021, THE IDEA VILLAGE twitted OURMEMORYZ as a winner of PITCHNIGHT. OURMEMORYZ supports families experiencing dementia through a technology tool for chat-based companionship and task reminders that aims to reduce burnout.
Online learners and teachers
On the 7 June 2021, at&t published an article presenting the 2021 AT&T ASPIRE ACCELERATOR CLASS. among them YogaEd, a startup that offers free and subscription based solutions for teachers, educators and homes. They also sell guides and books in their online store.
A senior may enjoy a distance learning environment, not kids. YOGAED helps improve the physical, mental, emotional and social health for students and teachers engaged in online learning.
Virtual mental health
Online mental health counseling
One of spring 2022 elevate/elevar accelerator alumni with a US$5000 prize is GOAL DRIVEN COUNSELING, a black owned, multi-state, private mental health counseling group of experienced clinicians. GDC use technology to lower mental health barriers to access for black, brown, disabled and rural communities.
Online therapy
One of the 2021 NEXT36 students and recent grads cohort member with CA$50,000 is ONE HEALING SPACE, a social enterprise dedicated to raising mental health awareness and providing accessible and culturally sensitive counselling and psychotherapy services to university students and adults in Canada.
