What You Should Know:

–              NeuroFlow, a behavioral health technology and analytics company helping to measure and manage population risk, has launched a suite of perinatal and postpartum pathways to support behavioral health throughout and after pregnancy.

–              These programs are a manifestation of NeuroFlow’s commitment to improving identification and timely support for behavioral health comorbidities, overcoming systemic barriers to care for populations that lack the resources they need during a vulnerable and momentous time in their lives.

NeuroFlow’s Innovative Approach: Transforming Maternal Mental Healthcare

In 2022, the White House declared a maternal health crisis in response to the escalating maternal mortality rates. The majority of these fatalities are preventable, with over 23% attributed to behavioral health conditions. Fast forward two years, and parents are still grappling with this harsh reality, with 75% of women facing perinatal mental health issues remaining untreated due to inadequate screening or access to care. Notably, disparities in postpartum behavioral health screenings are glaring among low-income women and women of color.

Numerous organizations are striving to enhance access to care for women and families throughout the pregnancy journey. However, most still lack sufficient mechanisms for consistently screening behavioral health needs at every pregnancy stage and tailoring resources accordingly. Addressing this challenge head-on, NeuroFlow is implementing upstream strategies to identify maternal behavioral health needs through regular screenings and proactive support. This includes promptly reaching out to parents experiencing suicidal ideation or self-harm ideation. The launch of these vital pathways strategically coincides with Mental Health Awareness Month, aimed at fostering discussions and highlighting these critical issues.

NeuroFlow’s novel maternal mental health offering employs enhanced logic to deliver timely, clinically validated assessments throughout pregnancy, guiding parents to the appropriate level of care. The personalized experience also encompasses educational content and milestone planning for each trimester and the postpartum period, including resources for dealing with pregnancy loss. NeuroFlow has developed curricula to support both broad population health initiatives and Ob-Gyn workflows, integrating pathways directly into patient care. This proven model, honed through collaboration with industry partners, is drawing interest from organizations such as disability insurers, Medicaid MCOs, and health systems committed to improving maternal population management and addressing mental health comorbidities. NeuroFlow’s ability to gauge risk and connect individuals to care pathways across various at-risk populations has led to reduced emergency department visits and enhanced symptom detection.

“Our goal is to normalize the challenges of new parenthood and ensure that no parent feels alone or ashamed during this incredibly stressful time,” said NeuroFlow Director of Clinical Growth and Strategy Amanda Brooks. “By providing a pathway that augments the care they are receiving from their provider, new and expecting parents’ care is improved, and the risk of untreated postpartum mental health conditions is mitigated.”

What You Should Know: 

– Thirty Madison, the company behind Keeps, Cove, and Nurx, announced a major partnership with Talkspace, a leading online therapy provider. 

– The strategic collaboration aims to significantly expand access to comprehensive mental health services for over half a million women.

Partnership Details

Under the agreement, Talkspace becomes the recommended therapy partner for Thirty Madison’s Nurx and Cove brands. Nurx, a leader in women’s healthcare, and Cove, the largest virtual clinic specializing in migraines, currently offer medication management for mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. The partnership empowers them to connect patients with a broader range of therapy options through Talkspace. These options include online therapy sessions with dedicated, licensed therapists, along with Talkspace’s self-guided therapy app. 

Talkspace will also bridge the gap by connecting patients to Nurx’s comprehensive care services spanning reproductive and sexual health, dermatology, and more. For Talkspace users, the partnership creates a pathway to migraine care through Cove. Notably, studies reveal that 60% of migraine patients have co-existing anxiety disorders, and 50% have depression diagnoses. This integration allows Talkspace to offer a more holistic approach to patient well-being.

Why It Matters

This collaboration between Thirty Madison and Talkspace represents a significant stride in expanding access to mental health services, particularly for women who may face challenges with traditional in-person therapy. By combining their expertise, they aim to address the growing demand for mental health professionals by providing readily available asynchronous care – accessible whenever patients need it.

“Too many people experience mental health conditions and are unable to access the care they need,” said Caroline Hofmann, chief business officer at Thirty Madison. “Since we began offering Nurx patients mental health treatment in 2022, we have seen consistently strong and increasing demand. There is a clear need for women to have more affordable options at their fingertips. Asynchronous care is effective and convenient, and we’re excited to expand by partnering with Talkspace for therapy.”

What You Should Know: 

– Two Chairs, a leading innovator in behavioral health, has announced the closing of a $72 million Series C funding round led by Amplo with participation from Fifth Down Capital and others, bringing Two Chairs’ total capital raised to $103 million. 

– Founded in 2017, Two Chairs is dedicated to creating a world where everyone has access to exceptional mental healthcare. They are recognized as a top employer for therapists, boasting over 500 licensed professionals with expertise in 90 areas. 

– The new funding fuels the company’s ambitious mission of making exceptional mental healthcare more accessible and effective nationwide.

Matching Clients with the Perfect Therapist

Two Chairs takes therapist-client matching to the next level. Their proprietary 300-variable algorithm, combined with a “matching consult” led by a licensed clinician, ensures clients connect with the right therapist for their specific needs. This personalized approach is reflected in the impressive statistic: 97% of Two Chairs clients report a strong alliance with their therapist, setting the stage for successful treatment.

Data-Driven for Personalized Care

Two Chairs goes beyond matching. Their leading approach to measurement-based care leverages real-time data to track client progress and well-being. This data empowers therapists to personalize treatment plans, strengthen the therapeutic connection, and ultimately help clients achieve their goals faster.

Investing in Therapists: A Key Differentiator

Recognizing the importance of well-supported and satisfied therapists, Two Chairs prioritizes a differentiated full-time clinician experience.  They offer a hybrid care model with both in-person and virtual therapy options across multiple locations in California, Washington, and Florida, with expansion into additional states planned within the next year.

Insurance Coverage and Future Partnerships

Two Chairs operates within an in-network model, partnering with major insurance providers like Aetna nationally and Kaiser Permanente in Washington and Northern California. This allows patients to access high-quality therapy with just a copay or coinsurance. Further healthcare partnerships are expected to be finalized throughout 2024.

“Two Chairs epitomizes quality in behavioral health, taking an extraordinarily thoughtful approach, and you can see it in their outcomes data,” said Sheel Tyle, Founder & CEO of Amplo. “Industry-wide, only about a third of patients progress to their fourth therapy session, whereas for Two Chairs, 90% of their patients do. We proudly invest in thriving companies where quality is a core advantage. Two Chairs has been growing quickly—in all the right ways and for all the right reasons.”

What You Should Know: 

– Grow Therapy, a mental health technology company focused on provider-centric care, raises $88M in Series C funding led by Sequoia Capital. The round included participation from Growth Equity at Goldman Sachs Alternatives, PLUS Capital, and a unique group of celebrity investors including Anna Kendrick, Lily Collins, and prominent athletes.

– The funding fuels Grow Therapy’s mission to make high-quality mental healthcare accessible to all.

Building a More Accessible Mental Healthcare System

Grow Therapy is a comprehensive platform to improve access to high-quality mental healthcare.  Their three-sided approach provides integrated solutions for patients, providers, and payers:

• Patients: Grow Therapy offers seamless therapist matching, insurance billing support, secure electronic health records (EHR), and telehealth capabilities.
• Providers: Therapists on the platform benefit from features like patient matching, in-session telehealth support, streamlined EHR with note-taking tools, and access to a supportive professional community.
• Payers: Grow Therapy partners with insurers to offer value-based care models, ensuring cost-effective and high-quality mental health services for covered populations, including Medicaid and Medicare members.

Introducing the Next Generation of Mental Healthcare Technology

Grow Therapy is unveiling significant advancements to its platform, including:

• Seamless Telehealth Infrastructure: Integrated with the Grow Therapy EHR, this new system allows therapists to manage treatment plans, goals, and notes directly within the telehealth platform.
• Enhanced Measurement-Informed Care: This best-in-class system gathers and analyzes clinical assessments, providing visualizations and data-driven prompts to support high-quality care decisions.
• Streamlined Note-Taking: Grow’s EHR system received major upgrades, offering customizable workflows, treatment plan prompts, and functionalities aligned with leading measurement-informed care protocols.
• Advanced Patient Matching: Grow Therapy’s matching algorithm has been refined to ensure optimal compatibility between patients and therapists. Factors considered include therapist availability, specialty, diversity, and most importantly, care quality.
• Expanded Support for Providers: Grow Therapy is investing in its clinical excellence program, offering therapists ongoing learning opportunities and fostering a supportive community for professional growth and collaboration.

A Track Record of Success

Since its founding in 2020, Grow Therapy has achieved impressive results:

• Over 3 Million Patient Encounters: 94% of these encounters were conducted within a patient’s insurance network.
• Industry-Leading Patient Satisfaction: Grow Therapy boasts an 85 Net Promoter Score and delivers clinically significant symptom reduction for moderate to severe cases (around 50%).
• Trusted by Therapists: Over 12,000 therapists across various specialties and backgrounds have joined the platform, with a focus on diversity (44% BIPOC representation). Services are available both in-person and via telehealth across 20 states, with plans for further expansion.
• Strong Payor Network: Grow Therapy collaborates with over 75 insurers, offering tailored services to meet the needs of each health plan and its members.

“Our team believes that empowering people to find and engage with effective mental health support – regardless of their background, geography or financial circumstances – is the most pressing need of our time. The two announcements we’ve made today, including the close of our $88 million Series C from Sequoia Capital and Goldman Sachs Alternatives and the launch of our new measurement-informed care system, represent tremendous strides in helping us fulfill that goal. Together with our partners and stakeholders, we are building an environment where people can easily find care they can trust and afford, and where therapists can serve their communities while building sustainable, rewarding careers,” said Grow Therapy CEO Jake Cooper.

What You Should Know: 

– Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. (Otsuka), a global pharmaceutical company, and Verily Life Sciences LLC (Verily), a precision health technology company, have teamed up to launch a groundbreaking research initiative called “My Mental Health Journey.” 

– The longitudinal registry study aims to significantly enhance our understanding of depression and other mental health conditions.

The Power of Real-World Data

My Mental Health Journey will enroll adult participants in the U.S. who are experiencing symptoms of depression. This large-scale observational study will leverage real-world data to provide valuable insights:

• Understanding Depression’s Progression: By tracking participants’ experiences over time, researchers will gain a deeper understanding of how depression evolves.
• Diversity and Inclusion: The study design prioritizes enrolling a diverse population, ensuring research reflects the true spectrum of depression.

Participant Engagement through Technology

Participation in My Mental Health Journey is designed to be convenient and informative:

• Self-Guided Assessments: Participants will periodically complete online surveys about their depression journey.
• Digital Data Collection: Securely shared digital data will contribute valuable real-world information to the study.
• Access to Resources: Participants will receive access to educational resources on depression and related mental health topics.
• Future Research Opportunities: Participants will have a simplified path to participate in future clinical research studies focused on mental health.

Verily Viewpoint: Powering the Study

Verily will utilize its expertise in precision health technology to manage the study through its Verily Viewpoint platform. This platform offers:

• End-to-End Solutions: Verily Viewpoint provides a comprehensive suite of tools for participant recruitment, data collection, and analysis.
• Streamlined User Experience: The platform prioritizes a user-friendly design to ensure a positive experience for participants.
• Multi-modal Data Collection: The platform gathers various data points to create a holistic picture of participants’ experiences.

Availability

The My Mental Health Journey registry is now enrolling participants across the United States. If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of depression and is interested in contributing to this vital research effort

“We are excited to help usher in the age of precision for mental health care by leveraging multimodal data to give a more complete picture of a person’s individual journey through treatment,” said Andrew Trister, MD, PhD, chief medical and scientific officer at Verily. “Our work with Otsuka offers the promise to accelerate the development and delivery of innovative treatments for depression to serve the millions of patients in need of safe, effective, and accessible care.” 

What You Should Know:

– Kooth Digital Health, a platform for youth mental health and well-being, has partnered with Aetna Better Health® of Illinois to provide free mental health resources to thousands of teens and young people in the state. This one-year collaboration aims to address the critical need for accessible mental health care for Illinois youth.

– The partnership builds on Kooth’s successful track record. Over 17 million people worldwide currently have access to Kooth’s platform, with programs supporting approximately 100,000 students in Pennsylvania and over 6 million young people in California through Soluna, a state-funded initiative.

The Need for Accessible Mental Health Resources

According to a National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) report, a staggering 61.8% of Illinois teens (aged 12-17) with depression receive no treatment. This lack of access to care can have severe consequences, with depressed high school students being twiceas likely to drop out and a significant portion of youth in the justice system having a mental health condition.

Kooth: Empowering Teens with Confidential Support

The Kooth platform offers a safe and confidential space for young people to access a variety of mental health resources, including:

• Self-guided tools: Evidence-based therapeutic content like mood tracking, breathing exercises, journaling prompts, educational podcasts and videos.
• Peer support: Safe, moderated online communities where teens can connect with their peers and share experiences.
• Professional support: Access to Illinois-licensed clinicians through drop-in chats or ongoing counseling sessions.

“Aetna is committed to pursuing innovative interventions to surround our members with health care solutions to build healthier populations across our state,” said Rushil Desai, CEO of Aetna Better Health of Illinois. “Our schools are Ground Zero of the mental health crises facing our children and teenagers each day. By partnering with Kooth, we are providing a transformational service to our youngest members delivering real-time, digital support for those facing complex issues. Our goal is to support them before a crisis emerges.”

What You Should Know:

– InStride Health, a leader in outpatient treatment for childhood anxiety and OCD closes oversubscribed $30M Series B funding round led by General Catalyst with participation from existing investors .406 Ventures, Valtruis, Mass General Brigham Ventures, and Hopelab Foundation.

– The latest investment brings InStride Health’s total funding to $56M and will help fuel the company’s mission of providing high-quality, accessible mental healthcare to young people.

Addressing the Pediatric Mental Health Crisis

Nearly one-third of youth in the United States will experience an anxiety disorder and/or OCD by the age of 18. InStride Health aims to bridge the gap in treatment for these prevalent conditions. Traditional options are often limited, with long waitlists and lack of insurance acceptance. InStride Health aims to tackle this challenge by offering insurance-based treatment with short wait times (typically 1-4 weeks) and a focus on affordability.

Evidence-Based Care with Real-World Application

InStride Health’s treatment approach is grounded in evidence-based practices like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), with an emphasis on Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).  The company’s founders, Dr. Mona Potter and Dr. Kathryn Boger, developed the core clinical program over a decade at McLean Hospital, the #1 ranked psychiatric hospital in the US according to U.S. News & World Report.

With this new funding, InStride Health plans to expand its reach, making their brand of high-quality, accessible mental healthcare available to more children and adolescents across the country.

“We’re on a mission to help kids, teens, and young adults with anxiety and OCD. We aim to expand our specialty clinical services to provide the same care and accessibility we’d want for our loved ones. Thanks to the dedication of our amazing team, partners, and investors, we are thrilled to continue to expand our supportive ecosystem for the kids and families we serve,” says John Voith, Co-founder and CEO of InStride Health.

What You Should Know:

– Brightside Health, a teletherapy provider for depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders, raises $33M in Series C funding led by S32.

– The funding round, which included participation from existing investors alongside new partners like Kennedy Lewis, Time BioVentures, and Anne Wojcicki’s Redwood Pacific, will fuel Brightside Health’s expansion plans.

– The funding comes on the heels of the company’s recent expansion into Medicaid and Medicare programs, along with the success of their award-winning Crisis Care program for individuals at risk of suicide.

Addressing a Growing Need

With one in five adults in the United States struggling with mental health conditions, Brightside Health is well-positioned to address this critical need. Brightside Health offers a range of teletherapy services, including their award-winning Crisis Care program for individuals with elevated suicide risk.  Their evidence-based approach combines precision psychiatry, clinically proven therapy, and a specialized Crisis Care program to deliver comprehensive mental healthcare.

Availability

Brightside Health’s services are currently available in all 50 states for commercially insured and self-pay patients. Additionally, they offer programs for Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries in select states. The company is actively expanding its partnerships with payers to reach even more individuals in need. The Series C funding empowers them to continue expanding access to high-quality mental healthcare across the country.

What You Should Know:

– A new study by Sonde Health reveals vocal biomarkers can be a reliable indicator of mental health. The research, published in Frontiers in Psychiatry, highlights the potential of Sonde’s mental fitness vocal biomarker (MFVB) platform to complement traditional mental health assessments and improve self-monitoring.

– Sonde’s MFVB technology has already been integrated into consumer health monitoring apps, life insurance health apps, consumer audio wearables, and automobiles.

The Study: Tracking Mental Health Through Speech

The four-week study involved 104 outpatients with depression symptoms from the Cognitive Behavior Institute in Pennsylvania. Participants used Sonde’s Mental Fitness app to record 30-second voice entries over a month. The app’s MFVB tool analyzed these recordings for eight key features related to mental health, including pitch and speech rate. Scores ranged from 0-100, with higher scores indicating better mental well-being.

Key Findings:

• Participants with consistently low MFVB scores (in the “Pay Attention” range) were twice as likely to report elevated mental health symptoms compared to those with consistently high scores (“Excellent”).
• Those who used the app more frequently (5-6 times per week) showed an even stronger correlation between MFVB scores and mental health symptoms as measured by the M3 Checklist, a standard assessment tool.
• Nearly 40% of participants reported changing their behavior or lifestyle based on insights from the app, and 72% wanted to continue using it for future monitoring.

Benefits and Future Applications:

The study suggests that voice-based tools like Sonde’s MFVB can provide valuable insights into mental health. These benefits include:

• Objective Data: Vocal biomarkers offer a more objective measure of mental well-being compared to self-reported symptoms.
• Scalability: Voice-based monitoring can be easily integrated into apps and wearable devices, allowing for continuous self-assessment.
• Early Intervention: Regular monitoring can identify potential mental health issues early, allowing for proactive intervention.

The ability to track mental health between clinical visits could be a game-changer, according to Dr. Lindsey Venesky, a clinical psychologist involved in the study. Voice-based technology offers a seamless and unobtrusive way to monitor mental health status over time.

“The ability to collect mental health data from patients between clinic visits could transform how we monitor symptoms and optimize treatment plans,” said Lindsey Venesky, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist and Clinical Director at the Cognitive Behavior Institute (CBI), which collaborated on the study. “Voice-based health tracking technology can provide accurate insights into a client’s mental health status over time and can do so seamlessly and unobtrusively, with little added effort for clients.”

What You Should Know:

– Sheba Medical Center, a leading Israeli hospital, is collaborating with ARC Innovation Center and KPMG to develop a generative AI platform named “Liv” aimed at transforming mental healthcare accessibility.

Mental Health Crisis

The project is driven by the urgent need to address the global mental health crisis, significantly worsened by COVID-19 and other recent events. The lack of qualified mental health professionals creates a bottleneck in the system, leaving many in need without timely care.

The Solution: GenAI-powered Platform “Liv”

“Liv” is an interactive conversational platform utilizing natural language processing to engage users in a personalized experience. It captures intake sessions through voice and written conversation, adhering to established protocols and guidelines, including the DSM-5 (diagnostic manual for mental disorders).

Key features and benefits of Liv include:

• Reduced Intake Time: The platform can significantly shorten the time it takes to complete patient intake for conditions like PTSD, depression, and anxiety.
• Increased Efficiency: Studies show “Liv” could enable mental health professionals to assist up to five times more users compared to current methods.
• Improved Accessibility: This translates to faster access to much-needed mental health services for a larger population.
• Enhanced User Experience: User feedback highlights the platform’s ability to effectively engage and create a positive user experience.

“Liv” represents a potential paradigm shift in mental healthcare. Professor Eyal Zimlichman, Chief Medical Officer at Sheba, emphasizes the role of AI in bridging the gap in mental health resources. The project leverages Microsoft Cloud and Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service to explore the transformative potential of Generative AI.

Ethical Considerations and Next Steps:

The research team, led by Prof. Mark Weiser and Dr. Asaf Caspi, prioritizes responsible AI development. The platform is designed to assist professionals, not replace them, and user summaries are always reviewed by a human practitioner. Sheba anticipates a fully operational platform within a few months after thorough testing and ethical considerations are addressed.

“The high global demand for mental health services necessitates solutions that can bridge the gap created by the lack of sufficient, relevant workforce resources,” said Prof. Eyal Zimlichman, Deputy Director-General, Chief Medical Officer, and Chief Innovation Officer at Sheba Medical Center. “We are exploring how Artificial intelligence, and specifically Generative AI, can assist clinicians in treating more users, promoting effective therapy and improving accessibility to high quality care. Through our collaboration with KPMG and leveraging Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service, we are investigating the potential that Gen AI can provide to what we believe will be a transformative change in healthcare. We anticipate that our research will result in a fully operational platform within a few months, once we have thoroughly examined all aspects of its use and established the necessary guard rails.” 

Availability

Sheba anticipates a fully operational platform within a few months after thorough testing and safety protocols are established.

What You Should Know:

– FamilyWell Health, a company dedicated to improving maternal mental health, announced today they have secured $4.3 million in seed funding led by .406 Ventures, with participation from GreyMatter Capital and Mother Ventures.

– The funding will fuel FamilyWell’s national expansion, tackling the crucial issue of maternal mental health. An alarming statistic reveals that 1 in 5 women in the United States experience postpartum depression, yet access to treatment remains a significant hurdle.

Investing in the Well-Being of Mothers

Currently, individuals seeking help often face months-long waiting periods to see a mental health professional. Driven by personal experience, Dr. Jessica Gaulton, founder and CEO of FamilyWell, shares her motivation: “As a survivor of postpartum depression and a witness to countless new mothers facing limited access to mental health care, I felt compelled to act. FamilyWell aims to provide equitable, affordable, and accessible mental healthcare for new mothers.”

FamilyWell addresses this gap by offering integrated mental health services directly within OB-GYN practices. This innovative approach provides pregnant and postpartum patients with:

• Specialized support: Addressing concerns like depression, anxiety, and other perinatal mental health challenges.
• Accessibility and affordability: Ensuring patients receive insurance-covered care, typically within a week, eliminating lengthy wait times.
• Empathy and understanding: FamilyWell’s model prioritizes both clinical expertise and personal experience. The company is founded by mothers who have navigated their own mental health journeys and are dedicated to supporting others.

What You Should Know:

• Brightside Health today announced new and expanded payer  partnerships to support Medicaid and Medicare. 
• The news comes just months after the company – which serves individuals with mild-to-severe clinical depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders – shared that it would begin serving 50 million Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries. These underserved  populations will have access to all of Brightside Health’s life-saving mental health care services; this  includes psychiatry, therapy, and its award-winning Crisis Care program for individuals with elevated  suicide risk, which has demonstrated impressive results in its first year already. 

Recent Developments in Healthcare Contracts and Mental Health Statistics

Today’s updates encompass the following developments:

– CareOregon: Secures a new contract to cater to Medicaid beneficiaries.

– Blue Shield of California: Secures a new contract to serve Medicare Advantage beneficiaries.

– Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas: Expands its contract to encompass Medicare Advantage services.

– Traditional Medicare: Extends coverage to include regions in Texas, California, Delaware, Arizona, New York, and Washington.

– Centene: Progresses with state-by-state expansion, including the addition of Nebraska Total Care Medicaid and Wellcare Medicare Advantage.

According to a recent study published in Psychiatry Research, the prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts is notably higher among Medicaid recipients compared to those with private insurance. Moreover, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reported that 25% of the 65 million Americans enrolled in Medicare experience mental illness. This underscores the urgent necessity to deliver high-quality mental health care to these underserved populations.

“We are continuously seeking ways to improve the lives of our members, and Brightside Health’s  telemental health platform enhances psychiatric service accessibility, particularly for individuals who  need access to high-quality medication services and urgent care for individuals with suicidal thoughts,”  said Adam Proctor, Plan President and CEO at Nebraska Total Care, a subsidiary of Centene Corporation.  “We look forward to the positive impact of this partnership and the additional access to psychiatric  services that it brings to our members.”

What You Should Know:

– The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) announced they are joining forces to invest over $20 million in a groundbreaking initiative to improve health information technology (IT) adoption and capabilities in behavioral healthcare settings.

– The strategic collaborative effort, aligned with the HHS Roadmap for Behavioral Health Integration and the President’s call to action on mental health and substance abuse, aims to bridge the existing gap between behavioral health and physical healthcare IT systems.

The Problem: Lagging Adoption and Limited Functionality

Currently, behavioral health providers lag behind their counterparts in other healthcare specialties when it comes to health IT adoption. This is partly due to their exclusion from incentive programs like those offered by Medicare and Medicaid. As a result, only 67% of psychiatric hospitals have adopted certified electronic health records (EHRs), compared to 86% of general acute care hospitals. This lack of technology adoption translates to limited functionalities, hindering crucial aspects of care delivery:

• Access to treatment: Inefficient data exchange and reporting pose barriers to telehealth implementation, restricting access to needed treatment for many patients.
• Care continuity: Disjointed information systems hinder smooth communication between behavioral health providers and other healthcare professionals, jeopardizing patient care continuity.
• Data-driven insights: Lack of standardized data collection and analysis capabilities limit the ability to measure treatment effectiveness and improve care delivery.

The Behavioral Health Information Technology (BHIT) Initiative

This innovative initiative addresses these challenges head-on through several key strategies:

• USCDI+ for Behavioral Health: This project will establish a new standardized set of data elements specific to behavioral health, facilitating seamless data exchange and interoperability across different healthcare settings.
• Technical Assistance: ONC will provide technical support to participating providers, enabling them to effectively implement and utilize health IT systems.
• Behavioral Health Information Resource: A dedicated online resource will offer comprehensive information and guidance on using USCDI+ and other relevant tools for behavioral health professionals.

The initiative is currently in its initial stages, with data element identification and collaboration with stakeholders underway.

What You Should Know:

A new study led by researchers at the University of California San Diego and the University of California San Francisco suggests a surprising link between depression and body temperature. Published today in Scientific Reports, the findings reveal that individuals with depression tend to have higher body temperatures, opening up potential avenues for novel treatment approaches.

Higher Temperatures, More Symptoms

The study, involving over 20,000 participants worldwide, utilized data from a wearable device, the Oura Ring, which measures skin temperature. Participants also self-reported their body temperatures and depressive symptoms daily for seven months.

The analysis revealed a clear correlation: higher levels of depression symptoms were associated with progressively higher skin temperatures. Additionally, the study observed a link between less temperature fluctuation throughout the day and increased depression scores, although this association wasn’t statistically significant.

Exploring Treatment Possibilities

These findings, while not directly establishing a causal link, suggest a potential treatment avenue for depression. Existing research indicates that heat-based therapies like saunas or hot tubs might alleviate depression symptoms, possibly by triggering the body’s natural cooling mechanisms.

“What if we could track the body temperature of individuals with depression and use that information to strategically apply heat-based treatments, leading to a longer-lasting cooling effect?” ponders lead author Ashley Mason, an associate professor of psychiatry at UCSF and a clinical psychologist.

Future Directions and Collaborations

This research builds upon the ongoing TemPredict Study, aiming to leverage skin temperature data for various health insights. The collaboration between UC San Diego and UC San Francisco researchers signifies the growing interest in exploring temperature’s role in mental health.

“To our knowledge, this is the largest study to date to examine the association between body temperature, assessed using both self-report methods and wearable sensors, and depressive symptoms in a geographically broad sample,” said Ashley Mason, associate professor of psychiatry at UC San Francisco Weill Institute for Neurosciences and the study’s lead author. “Given the climbing rates of depression in the U.S., we’re excited by the possibilities of a new avenue for treatment.”

This research effort is sponsored by the Government under Solicitation MTEC-20-12-Diagnostics-023.

What You Should Know:

– Cedars-Sinai clinicians have teamed up with AI experts to develop an AI-powered VR therapy app, Xaia, that leverages the power of Apple Vision Pro to offer an immersive, accessible approach to mental health support.

– By harnessing the power of AI and virtual reality, the app offers a convenient, engaging, and effective way for individuals to manage their mental well-being. As technology continues to evolve, apps like Xaia hold immense potential to democratize access to quality care and empower individuals to prioritize their mental health.

AI Meets Virtual Reality

Xaia offers patients a self-administered, AI-driven therapy experience within the calming environment of virtual reality. Imagine yourself in a serene meadow by a babbling brook or on a sun-drenched beach, guided by a friendly AI avatar trained to mimic a human therapist. This immersive setting allows users to engage in deep breathing exercises, meditation, and personalized conversations designed to address their mental health needs.

From Research to Reality: A Transformative Step

Dr. Omer Liran, a psychiatrist at Cedars-Sinai and co-founder of Xaia, emphasizes the app’s potential to revolutionize mental health accessibility: “Xaia represents a transformative step in making quality therapy accessible to all.”

The app’s development is backed by extensive research. A groundbreaking study published in Nature Digital Medicine demonstrated the app’s effectiveness and safety for patient use. This research, coupled with Cedars-Sinai’s Technology Ventures program, paved the way for bringing Xaia to life.

While Xaia is not intended to replace traditional therapy, it has the potential to reach individuals who might otherwise struggle to access mental healthcare.

“Apple Vision Pro offers a gateway into Xaia’s world of immersive, interactive behavioral health support—making strides that I can only describe as a quantum leap beyond previous technologies,” said Brennan Spiegel, MD, MSHS, professor of Medicine, director of Health Services Research at Cedars-Sinai and co-founder of the Xaia technology. “With Xaia and the stunning display in Apple Vision Pro, we are able to leverage every pixel of that remarkable resolution and the full spectrum of vivid colors to craft a form of immersive therapy that’s engaging and deeply personal.”