Four trends accelerating mental health innovation in the COVID/ post-COVID era

The money behind mental health: How the pandemic increased innovation, investment in behavioral health care (Fierce Healthcare): Earlier this month, Modern Health marked a milestone few companies ever reach: unicorn status. With the help of its latest $74 million funding round, the startup, which serves as a mental health benefits platform for employers, topped a $1 billion valuation. … And while Modern Health was already attracting plenty of interest before the pandemic, CEO Alyson Watson said her company is among those in the behavioral health space that have seen what can only be described as a seismic shift across the industry in the wake of COVID-19. In the first half of 2020 alone, digital behavioral health startups scored $588 million, roughly the annual funding for this segment in any previous year, Rock Health wrote in a report last year … That’s translating to some real changes in the industry, including an uptick in investment, that will be felt for years to come. Here’s a look at four of those changes. Stigma has decreased in a big way The industry is getting better about data Regulations have made it easier Employers are getting serious about it “If there is anything we’ve seen out of this year, it’s really become that fourth pillar of benefits for every employer out there. Everyone has medical, dental and vision. Mental health has now really become that fourth pillar of benefits for all employers.” — Alyson Watson, CEO and founder of Modern H...
Source: SharpBrains - Category: Neuroscience Authors: Tags: Brain/ Mental Health Technology & Innovation Behavioral Health COVID-19 digital behavioral health employers mental health benefits mental health innovation Modern Health Source Type: blogs