The Digital Mental Health Market: A Big Opportunity

"The digital mental health market has been growing rapidly even before COVID-19. Stress and anxiety, caused by the pandemic, accelerated demand for virtual behavioural health services. Furthermore, the health crisis has created particularly high barriers to accessing care, with short- and long-term implications. Both, those at risk of developing a mental health disorder for the first time as well as those with an existing disorder that is threatening to deteriorate, are severely affected. Those circumstances create an environment in which digital mental health solutions are able to thrive and improve the access to care. As a result, the digital mental health market is booming. But what is the relevance for the mental health landscape when the digital mental health market is gaining traction?

What return do you get for every $1 invested in the digital mental health market?

The economic case for investment in mental health is strong: for every $1 invested in scaled-up treatment for depression and anxiety, there is a $4 return in better health and productivity. But still: “When it comes to mental health, all countries can be thought of as developing countries” as stated in 2018 by the Lancet Commission on global mental health and sustainable development. The much-needed investment and transformation of mental health was not addressed over the past years and is now needed more than ever. The Lancet Global Health observes a “[…] clustering of multiple social determinants of mental health—fear and anxiety about COVID-19, emotional distress resulting from illness, bereavement, unemployment, income loss, and loneliness due to social isolation—all interacting, and generating or exacerbating mental health problems at a global scale”.

Overall, the various challenges highlight the need for innovative solutions which are provided by the digital mental health market..." Lire la suite