Health Tech

NeuroFlow joins with Magellan to provide mental health support to military families

To supplement the counseling services Magellan Federal offers to service members and their spouses, NeuroFlow will provide access to resources and support through its app.

Military families face unique challenges, as a loved one’s service can put a strain on a partner and children. A range of concerns from frequent relocations to isolation, can increase stress levels and raise the risk for mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.

To help address the need, Magellan Health and NeuroFlow announced Tuesday that they’ve partnered to provide personalized behavioral health and well-being support. Magellan, which is based in Frisco, Texas, provides counseling services to members of the military and their spouses. Philadelphia-based Neuroflow, a mental wellness platform, will supplement that by providing access to resources and support through its app. The companies did not disclosed the financial terms of the partnership.

NeuroFlow offers private and easy ways to manage stressors through self-care tools including cognitive behavioral therapy exercises—like challenging negative or problematic thoughts or beliefs—and meditation. Its platform also helps to proactively identify worsening behavioral health conditions and match individuals to the right level of care.

“Speaking as a veteran, I can say that the unpredictability of military life has the potential to cause sharp peaks and valleys with our mental health,” said NeuroFlow CEO Chris Molaro in an email. “Having a tool that can provide some answers and detect the ‘valleys’ before they become concerning is what this partnership is all about.”

The first 18-month phase of the program will be launched on three military bases, though Molaro said he couldn’t disclose which bases, at present, for privacy and security reasons. Magellan’s subsidiary Magellan Federal will be heading up the program.

“Our Magellan Federal team is deeply committed to helping address the health and well-being of the military families we serve,” said Anna Sever, interim senior vice president of Magellan Federal, in a statement. “Through our work with NeuroFlow, we are offering a digital solution with a focus on prevention and early identification of issues taking a unique, evidence-based approach.”

A growing number digital health companies, from Snapclarity to MindCheck, are now offering tools to help people monitor and take care of their mental health. These provide everything from online questionnaires and mental health assessments to customized treatment plans. The primary focus is offering individualized help in step with a person’s changing needs.

“We know that behavioral health can’t be a one-size-fits-all approach—everyone has different needs and those can and often do change over time,” Molaro said.

He hopes collaborations like this one between Magellan and NeuroFlow can also help to combat the stigma around mental health in the military community.

“We need to limit the number of obstacles people face when seeking care for mental health; that’s where technology can help. Far too many people have lost their lives because of lack of access, and really, lack of hope for getting better,” Molaro said. “We want those who seek help to get it in a timely manner, and those who don’t know they need help to recognize they have support systems in place to offer assistance.”

Photo: Evgeny Gromov, Getty Images

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