Pediatric mental health is the theme of the Pitch Perfect contest at the INVEST Digital Health conference at Pegasus Park in Dallas on September 18. It is an area of healthcare that has attracted much interest in recent years, not only because of the mental health challenges children and adolescents go through such as depression and anxiety, but also because the rise of social media has amplified the impact of bullying, negative self-esteem and body image. By making use of virtual care and telemedicine services, pediatric mental health companies can extend the reach of therapists.
Here’s a look at some of the different ways digital health companies are addressing pediatric mental health.
Equip’s focus is eating disorders. Founded in 2019 and led by Kristina Saffran, co-founder and CEO who had anorexia as a child, Equip uses a multidisciplinary team of a therapist, dietitian, medical provider, and mentors who were diagnosed with an eating disorder at some point in their lives. The company’s treatment is reimbursed by multiple payers, according to Equip’s website.
Reducing Clinical and Staff Burnout with AI Automation
As technology advances, AI-powered tools will increasingly reduce the administrative burdens on healthcare providers.
Somethings uses a network of mentors in their 20s who have personal experience with depression, anxiety, and social skill challenges. Patrick Gilligan, the founder and CEO teamed up with Dr. Ahmed Khan, Equip chief clinical officer, to develop a network that teens could turn to for guidance and support, whether it’s for relationship advice, dealing with academic stress, parents’ divorce, LGBTQ+, and more.
InStride Health works with families to develop customized support for children with anxiety disorders. It provides sessions, personalized exposure coaching, and group and individual therapy as needed, according to the company’s website. The goal is to increase engagement and use of anxiety management tools by individuals to help kids face their fears and provide encouragement.
Daybreak Health works with school districts across the country to provide mental health support services for K-12 grade students through mental health assessment tools and teletherapy. It also offers virtual workshops led by licensed clinicians for families and school staff to learn about youth mental health and how to understand, identify, and support kids’ needs, according to Daybreak’s website.
Bend works with a team of coaches, therapists, and psychiatric providers who work with families to provide comprehensive, personalized care plans to help children feel better so they can thrive, according to its website. Launched in 2021, executives at Bend hail from companies such as Oracle, Optum, UnitedHealth Group, and Teladoc Health. Bend works with a family’s pediatrician or primary care physician to build long-term resiliency. Although Bend works with a host of national and regional payers, it does not yet accept Medicaid.
Transforming Patient Care: The Role of AI-Powered Assistants
The progress in artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping patient care, across various dimensions, from facilitating faster discharge to curating treatment plans and suggesting lifestyle changes.
To enter the Pitch Perfect contest, follow this link.
You can also review the full agenda for the conference here. Register today!
Photo: Radachynskyi, Getty Images
the company had anorexia as a child. Equip’s approach is