If there is ever a greater necessity for mental health to become high in business agenda, it is. A human and societal issue which has always been around but – generally – overlooked, the pandemic has shone a blinding light on the have to put people's mental health the main thing on working and personal life. It was recently reported that monthly mental health referrals over the UK hit their highest reason for 2 yrs.
But finding and accessing the right mental health services can seem just like a never ending battle, with therapist support often judged by who's available and never by who's most aligned to an individual's needs. And, with increasingly high demand accompanied by convoluted, outdated and time-consuming processes, there is a significant demand for new systems to reimagine the process.
In this day and age, if you want to reach as many people as you possibly can, as quickly as possible, you've got to be utilising tech. It appears disjointed it's more readily found an ideal dating match on a popular dating site than connect with the right therapist to help with mental health issues. But it's a framework that actually bears similarities to how tech can unlock the perfect mental health support. Defining why is a great client therapist match is obviously a more complex and nuanced business – but technology holds the capacity to foster this change.
The platform that finds your therapist match
This process is already in action. Mental health technology company Paranimo has partnered with software development and digital transformation pioneer Amdaris, to develop a platform which has enabled users to complement with a personal therapist and access the right mental health support online via a “virtual therapy room”. The woking platform can understand a person's unique mental health challenges and requires: the service uses highly advanced search and comparison tools to help patients discover the most appropriate therapist. At the heart of it all may be the capability to empower individuals to take control of their mental health, instead of being dependent on external services both in the general public and private sector.
So far, the technology has resulted in some very encouraging and impressive results. A preliminary pilot study with the general public led to 93% of therapy users getting a therapist who matched their demands, by having an average reduction of 58% anxiety, 51% irritability, and 40% depression after therapy. It is a clear indication that purchasing advancing such technology is going to be paramount to changing the game for mental health support and, crucially, the wellbeing of its users.
Adopting a B2B model to scale
Trying to hack why is the perfect user therapist match and to fully realise the potential of we've got the technology requires the way of testing it on the wide scale. An airplane pilot study is a great indicator from the product's capability – but joining this with various models can provide a bigger and much more sustained impact.
Following an effective launch to the public, the technology is now on offer towards the charity sector and other SMEs. The move will empower charities to supply this tailored mental health support, however, whenever and wherever users choose. This B2B offering to aid charities and SMEs alongside the pilot study aims to create a positive difference to mental health on the larger scale and provide new insights.
Where charities are usually time poor and want to prove the measurable impact of the services, the supply of the mental health delivery platform will aid such organisations with customer registration, schedule management, payment processing, and video and telephone therapy. This really is in addition to easing the challenges associated with choosing the best therapist for vulnerable individuals. Adopting a B2B funding model is a practical way to improve accessibility for individuals while simultaneously reducing the some time and complexity required in seeking such support.
People-centred approach
Technology came to the fore throughout the pandemic and its influence is just set to greaten. We're living at any given time when mental health problems require more attention and care but also at a time when choosing the right mental health is complicated and extremely inaccessible, leading to a lot of people feeling disempowered. For those its challenges, the opportunity to join the mission to empower people to manage their mental health through tech is definitely an enticing one, and something that can provide a new outlook to how it's perceived.
From food and drinks to dates and nights out, individuals are constantly accessing what they need and want. However, why can't this be the same for mental health? Technology has the power they have to bring people together, also it can open up the avenues by which people can manage themselves better and take control of the support they require and desire. Technology ought to always be 'tech for good'; mental health could be finding its new match.
About Amdaris
Amdaris delivers innovative Software Development, Application Support Managed Services and Consultancy Services using their HQ in the UK and delivery centres in Eastern Europe, run by co-CEOs Andy Rogers and Vlad Nanu and backed by BGF.