Big Health Hones Digital Mental Health Therapy With $39M Series B (Crunchbase):
“Startup Big Health believes individuals can improve their mental health through its technology that focuses on cognitive behavioral therapy versus medication or the help of human therapists.
On Thursday it raised $39 million in a Series B financing to advance that objective.
The mental health crisis triggered by COVID-19 is escalating rapidly. One example: When compared to a 2018 survey, U.S. adults are now eight times more likely to meet the criteria for serious mental distress. One-third of Americans report clinically significant symptoms of anxiety or clinical depression, according to a late May 2020 release of Census Bureau data.
While all population groups are affected, this crisis is especially difficult for students, particularly those pushed off college campuses and now facing economic uncertainty; adults with children at home, struggling to juggle work and home-schooling; and front-line health care workers, risking their lives to save others. [Read more…] about Four immediate priorities to flatten the mental distress curve
__
In the early days of COVID-19, we faced many difficult decisions in everyday life: trying to weigh risk and decide whether to meet up or stay home, send kids to school or visit the gym. Now that my home state of California has its “shelter in place” order—and many other cities and states are in various stages of lockdown—a waiting period has taken shape.
In some ways, this is a relief—our minds get decision fatigue in the face of so many choices. Now we have our instructions, which are restrictive but useful to our brains. But many other types of uncertainty still remain, about things like our jobs, whether we will get sick even while taking precautions, or when we will see our loved ones and return to some normal routines.
[Read more…] about Three tips for wise minds to calm coronavirus anxiety
__
Pear gets FDA clearance for insomnia therapeutic (MedCity News):
“Pear Therapeutics received marketing authorization for its third product — a digital therapeutic intended to treat chronic insomnia. Called Somryst, the app is available by prescription only. It consists of a nine-week program that includes cognitive behavioral therapy and restricting sleep to a limited window of time [Read more…] about The FDA clears Somryst, Pear’s digital therapeutic to treat chronic insomnia
_____
Express Scripts Launches First Digital Health Formulary for Apps & Devices (HIT Consultant):
“Starting in January 2020, Express Scripts Digital Health Formulary will initially include 15 solutions for remote monitoring services and digital therapeutics that aid in the management of eight of the country’s most common chronic conditions: diabetes, prediabetes, hypertension, asthma, pulmonary disease, depression, anxiety, and insomnia [Read more…] about First Digital Health Formulary by Express Scripts includes CBT-based programs to treat depression, anxiety and insomnia
These days, you can’t go anywhere without hearing about how technology is ruining everything, including our happiness. There is some truth to this, but it’s not the whole story.
Technology can be bad for us—for example, when social media gives us FOMO (fear of missing out) or traps us in filter bubbles that prevent us from seeing multiple points of view on important issues. As a society, we are increasingly concerned that technologies like smartphones and social media result in more social comparison, bullying, and loneliness—all stumbling blocks to happiness. Technology seems to be bad for our happiness when it interferes with the mental, social, emotional, and behavioral processes that contribute to well-being.
But we often fail to realize (and discuss) the ways that technology can also support happiness and well-being—for example [Read more…] about Four guidelines for smart use of smartphones
