Wellness PR topics typically leverage scientific/medical insight, coupled with robust emerging technologies. Since the beginning of the pandemic, mental health has taken the spotlight both individuals, and the news world at large. Awareness for conditions like depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns have seen dramatic increases, and continue to capture the attention of global audiences. Now, in a post-vaccine world, many continue to struggle with their mental health, with concerns beyond the after-effects of the pandemic.
Fortunately, this heightened awareness has brought about innovative solutions that can benefit those who are seeking help. Lines between the digital world and the physical one continue to blur, and as these spaces become more integrated, technologies that aid in health and wellness are changing alongside our lifestyles. Among these technologies, mental health apps have seen exponential growth since the start of the pandemic – and there’s no sign of them slowing down. Wellness PR is essential in maintaining this growth and ensuring the longevity of these technologies in the healthcare space.
FischTank PR works closely with leading companies in wellness PR. Here is some notable mental health and wellness tech news transforming approaches mental health:
How Two Mothers Developed An App For Black Women With Postpartum Depression – Essence
Per 2020 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), postpartum depression (PPD) “affects over 11% of women in the United States, or 1 in 9 women. However, the condition does not affect all women equally…Studies suggest that PPD is more likely to occur in women of color. One such study…found that African American women were more than twice as likely to experience postpartum depressive symptoms as white women.” This is representative “of a larger trend in the U.S. maternal mortality crisis, where Black women die from pregnancy-associated causes at 2.5 times the rate of their white counterparts.”
Kearney and Marguerite Pierce, her co-founder, have accomplished much to achieve their vision, all while overcoming prolific instances of racism and bias. “…I’ve cried more behind closed doors in the last 12 weeks than I have in my entire life, but I refuse to give up because Black women are suffering and the problem is fixable. It’s about community and communication, and it’s about making as much noise as possible in the healthcare industry so they know we will not stop until change in maternal morbidity and patient outcomes drastically improve.”
“There’s a need for women of color specifically to have digital solutions that are supportive, confidential and safe,” says Dr. Jenna Duffecy and since Kearney’s app debuted to the public in beta form in January, there were 7,000 people who have signed up and the company “already has 180 trained therapists on the site and another 700 on the waiting list.”
Hospitals leverage technology beyond its initial design to address needs of mental health patients – Med City News
“We see technologies like telehealth continuing to come closer to the patient and being combined with in-office visits to help address mental health issues in schools and the ED. From the school to the home, to even in the community, mental health will continue to happen in ways that are more private and convenient for the patients. This will help to remove obstacles and get them the help they need when they need it.”
Innovative treatments: the new frontier for mental health – Drug Target Review
“Technology may be a helpful first step for those who have previously avoided mental health treatment. Consumers are turning their mobile devices into pocket therapists, be it with meditation platforms such as Headspace and Calm, or with telemedicine services, including Klara and Steth IO.
There is even an artificial intelligence (AI)-based platform called Quartet that identifies at-risk patients by assessing medical records, adjusting mental health paths and suggesting professional help if needed. Moreover, mental health bots are gaining popularity. Woebot, Moodkits and Moodnotes are the most popular on today’s market. They employ cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and various strategies to assist individuals in improving their mental health.”
Tech Innovations That Have Revolutionized the Way We Treat Mental Health Conditions in the Past Two Years – Health Tech Zone
“There was a time when healthcare professionals would scapegoat video games for the decline in mental health among youths. It was as if video games were the only evil responsible for degrading moral and ethical values in children. Fast forward to mid-2022, and the world was seeing its first prescription video game.
In June 2020, the FDA gave its approval to the world’s first prescription video game. The game – EndeavourRX – was targeted towards kids between 8 and 12 years of age suffering from ADHD. By utilizing the in-game environment, healthcare professionals could bring minor improvements to the kids’ natural habits. And slowly, these minor improvements were leading to better and more drastic changes.”
The Mental Health Crisis Is Growing. Is Technology One Possible Solution? – Forbes
“Industry giants have recognized the derived value in this space and have been investing billions of dollars into mental health technology. Take for example the famed mediation app Headspace, which recently announced a merger culminating in a total valuation of over $3 billion with on-demand mental health service provider Ginger. Similarly, late last year, Calm, a sleep and meditation app, announced a $2 billion valuation, backed by prominent industry venture funds. Virtual care applications which offer remote or virtual mental health sessions on-demand, such as Carbon Health, are also gaining significant traction. Carbon Health was recently valuated at more than $3 billion.”
Women’s-Health Tech Startup Vira Health Raised $12M With This Pitch Deck
“Vira Health aims to make personalized menopause care the norm while reducing the long-term effects of conditions like osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. The startup’s first product, an app called Stella, is designed to help users track and manage their menopause symptoms over 12 weeks and offers personalized guidance from a coach.
Andrea Berchowitz, a cofounder, said she wanted the company to reflect a key lesson from the pandemic: Everyone experiences healthcare differently.
With its new funds, Vira Health aims to grow its services to telemedicine and pharmaceuticals to provide a holistic care package for women and expand into the US in the coming year.”
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Wellness PR functions typically support brands, organizations and individuals seeking to advance technologies and ideas designed to improve mental health. If interested in working with a firm with deep wellness PR experience, please shoot us a note at [email protected]
***Blog post authored by FischTank PR intern Anna Dillon***
