Innovation in Mental Health: Projects That Are Changing Lives

With the rise of digitalization and, above all, the use of social media, society is experiencing a significant impact on mental health. Technology is leaving a significant mark on the psychological well-being of younger generations, who are now digitalized practically from birth.

Yes, technology is one of the key elements in today's world, but it comes hand in hand with social and work pressure. Furthermore, this problem doesn't only affect a specific segment of society. According to a 2009 study by the Anxiety & Depression Association of America , more than 70% of entrepreneurs and business owners suffer from burnout and mental health problems due to work-related stress.

Currently, many initiatives have been created to address this problem, aiming to promote people's emotional and psychological well-being. In Tetuan Valley, for example, we have a large number of startups that respond to this need, of which we are very, very proud!

To encourage these startups to share different perspectives on mental health, discuss the challenges facing the sector, and talk about their projects, we're organizing a themed coffee event with "wellness" as the theme in December 2023. This event is part of a series of themed gatherings for our startup community, as well as in other verticals such as sustainability and music.

Mental health is one of the most important topics today. Check out these 8 startups:

APOC.ai - Develop rapid proofs of concept using AI to explore its potential and build custom, data-driven tools to support business evolution, making work easier and more convenient.

Balanc3 - A digital clinic that combines psychosocial, nutritional, and physical activity interventions for mental health care. They use teletherapy and digital therapeutic tools to provide Blended Therapy and strive to offer more accessible and cost-effective services.

Dendron Neurotechnologies - Development of software and hardware for the diagnosis and treatment of anxiety disorders using electronic neurotechnology devices.

Medea Mind - Software for mental health professionals that helps simplify manual tasks and provide key metrics and digital tools for cost-effective treatment.

Mentiness - A people analytics platform for organizations, providing mental health prevention and care through individualized sessions, workshops, and online training.

Sincrolab - Specializes in creating and selling technological tools to help people with neuropsychological disorders, or in other words, brain development, as well as the elderly.

Karis - Creative Therapy Platform offering both group and one-on-one sessions designed by art therapists and artists to help people with physical or mental difficulties expressing themselves.

Stresstech - A digital emotional diary with mental health biomarkers that analyzes stress, helplessness, and self-esteem levels through a simple audio message. Its goal, using sound bath technology, is to balance cortisol levels and reduce and treat both stress and various traumas.

For this article, we interviewed some of the startups and asked them their opinions on technology and its role in mental health.

Why does technology play a crucial role in mental health?

Nowadays, technology is present in almost every area and mental well-being is one of them, as it can be the catalyst for some problems such as anxiety or depression but also the solution to them.

David Garrido, founder of Karis Digital, says, “Technology, when used properly, can open many doors in business, but it shouldn't be seen as just a fad.”

Technological development makes it easier than ever to find solutions to various problems. The key to technology is its impact, and in this case, its positive effect on mental health, as innovation tends to become more accessible and improved over time.

Another entrepreneur and founder of StressTech, David Martín Corral, asserts that "technology is neither good nor bad, and it depends on how it's used, because the problem is that technology disrupts the functioning of our nervous system." We're more concerned about new devices appearing on the market and how to learn to use them, but we don't spend time getting to know ourselves. He also maintains that it's very important to "master ourselves in order to master technology" and that it serves as a support.

According to Rebeca Calvo of Mentiness, technology "is very helpful when it comes to delving deeper into the causes of people's discomfort, but it cannot replace psychologists." Recognized professionals are needed to provide adequate patient care, and startups should not rely solely on technology, as "the human element is irreplaceable." For Mentiness, "humanized" technology is part of the startup's values, allowing for personalized care for each employee.

What are the main challenges in this area from a startup perspective?

David Garrido of Karis affirms that technology is useful for many, but one of the challenges the mental health sector is facing is that some people choose to turn to AIs (like Chat GPT) for free therapy sessions. The problem with this is that for now, no matter how much we might want it to, artificial intelligence isn't capable of empathy, which is crucial in all types of psychological therapies. Additionally, he believes that mental health "is a very sensitive field, as it requires awareness and being present in the patient's life, and a machine can't do that."

Another challenge lies in how to bring mental health to the general public. New solutions are being offered every day, but users are still unaware of many of them. It's important to know how to promote new types of therapy, such as Mixed and Creative Therapy. "How are they going to buy from you if they don't even know what you do?" says David Garrido.

As Rebeca Calvo of Mentiness says, in society and the market, "there is still a lot of stigma surrounding the term mental health." She also notes that this occurs especially in large corporations, where less attention is often paid to the psychological and emotional well-being of employees. Poor employee performance is often due to various causes associated with stress, although this issue is often overlooked. For this reason, it is crucial to understand and accept the role that mental health plays in people's performance, given that it is directly related to business results.

Furthermore, many users are skeptical about data processing. There is a significant amount of mistrust, which makes clients more cautious about the personal information they share in digital therapies. AI is a very useful tool for collecting, analyzing, and processing client data, but it often generates mistrust. Therefore, it is necessary to offer a product that provides value and makes sense for users to purchase it.

Prioritizing mental health in entrepreneurship is not only beneficial, but essential!

So we encourage all readers to foster a supportive environment and seek help when needed.