INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Getting mental health services can be burdensome
But based on the current landscape, it can take months to find the right therapist who also takes your insurance.This is where Meru Health
By providing its service as a benefit for employers to offer to their employees, Meru Health can operate as a first line of treatment where
people can get help in a matter of weeks, Meru Health co-founder and CEO Kristian Ranta told TechCrunch.Ranta, who lost his brother to
Worldwide, more than 300 million people suffer from depression and 260 million suffer from anxiety disorders, according to the World Health
Organization.Meru Health offers an eight-week treatment program for depression, burnout and anxiety
The program, currently led by five licensed therapists, utilizes both cognitive behavioral therapy, behavioral activation and
mindfulness-based intervention
customers include WeWork and the Palo Alto Medical Foundation
To date, Meru Health says 75 percent of the people who go through its program report symptom reduction.Other startups working in the mental
health space include Pacifica and Lantern, a mental health startup that offers tools to deal with stress, anxiety and body image
To date, Lantern has raised more than $20 million in funding
Another one is Talkspace, which aims to be an alternative to traditional therapy.Down the road, Meru Health may make its service available
to everyday consumers, but right now, Ranta said the focus is on selling to larger employers and doing clinical research
Meru Health is also looking to bring on board a doctor to help with medication management and, possibly, even providing prescriptions, Ranta
Meru Health, which is currently participating in Y Combinator, envisions bringing on a medical doctor post-YC.
