Devices & Diagnostics, Hospitals, Startups

Crowdfunding kicks off for mental health screening kiosks in Philadelphia

Screening for Mental Health Inc. started its crowdfunding effort Monday to provide screening kiosks in Philadelphia that […]


Screening for Mental Health Inc. started its crowdfunding effort Monday to provide screening kiosks in Philadelphia that will allow users to find out more about their mental health and whether or not they should seek treatment.

Essentially, becoming educated about your mental health could be as easy as examining your physical health, like with a blood pressure cuff. It was one of nine concepts selected from a design challenge, which was backed by the Scattergood Foundation and Drexel University School of Public Health.

The company explains its mission:

Currently, one in four Americans has a diagnosable behavioral health condition in the United States yet the vast majority do not seek treatment. In Philadelphia, these rates rise to 30%. One of the leading deterrents for seeking treatment for those living with these conditions is fear and stigma. This year we created the first of its kind behavioral health kiosk, located in a Philadelphia-based ShopRite QCare clinic. Designed for use in public spaces, our kiosks aim to reduce stigma by making learning about and screening for treatable conditions like depression or anxiety as commonplace as a blood pressure screening.

What the kiosk provides:

  • Interactive assessments for common mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety, and substance abuse
  • Information on whether their assessment is consistent with a common mental health disorder or substance abuse
  • An overview of the signs and symptoms of treatable mental health disorders
  • Educational information and resources for local quality treatment options

The company is shooting for a goal of $25,000 by January 16, 2015.

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