Heaven knows what will happen to the mental health of children who have gone through this past year, but if there is something we need right now, it is possible for young people to climb mental health. And as much as some of us may not be able to bear the thought of another video call, a UK company believes it has created the magic formula for online therapy for children.
Now, Healios has raised a £ 7m ($ 10m) Series A round to expand its platform across the UK. If the launch is successful, the start is planned to expand internationally. The round was led by InHealth Ventures with the participation of existing AlbionVC investors.
Healios will use the funding to expand its experience in AI, machine learning and data science, in addition to adding to the team. Healios says its platform digitizes the clinical pathway, allowing children, adults and their families to use clinical services at home.
According to UK government statistics, one in eight (12.8%) young people aged five to 19 in the UK have a mental health disorder, but two-thirds cannot access NHS care at due to growing demands. And the Covid-19 pandemic has made things worse.
Launched in 2013, Healios claims to have now worked with 65% of the NHS Mental Health Trusts, with 70,000 specialist clinical sessions, which is a high success rate for a startup, given how difficult it is to obtain NHS approval.
The family-focused online therapy program for young people develops psychosis and schizophrenia. Healios says studies have shown that the involvement of family members from the beginning can reduce suicide by up to 90%. It also covers anxiety, low mood, autism and ADHD, as well as support for their families.
Unlike some emerging companies in the field of mental health, Healios is not an advisory market, but a leading end-to-end provider of these services.
Richard Bradford, president of the InHealth Ventures and InHealth group, will join the board of directors of Healthios, alongside AlbionVC’s Cat McDonald.
Rich Andrews, founder and CEO of Healios, said: “This funding will help us reach more families in need and allow us to develop more cutting-edge interventions and therapies in the industry. Bringing together clinical experts and giving them the tools to reach out. to our patients, no matter where they are, we are closing the access gap that the mental health supply has suffered for too long ”.
Andrews also told me, “A young person will have a first mental health assessment with us. If necessary, we will make a diagnosis and then they will move on to other interventions with us, so this is a perfect experience. “
Dr. Ben Evans, CEO of InHealth Ventures, said: “Healios is a benchmark in healthcare innovation. They combine clinical excellence with digital experience, working in collaboration with the NHS to address a critical area “But Healios’ work to date speaks for itself; its holistic approach to diagnosis and treatment has had a substantial impact on clinical outcomes and patient experience.”
Cat McDonald, an investor at AlbionVC, added: “Covid has spawned a pace of innovation that has not been seen in health until now. In particular, we have seen that remote care not only works, but often works much better than traditional alternatives. The option of receiving remote care, at home and in a family setting is the strong preference of most children with poor mental health. “