Digital mental health companies have received Huge quantities of investment from venture capitalists and others eager to address the behavioral health crisis the nation finds itself in.
But it is not always clear that their technologies have been properly validated in large and diverse populations.
Now, headspace healtha provider of mental health solutions based in Santa Monica, California, is requesting external researchers to analyze how the company affects mental health and wellness outcomes, particularly for diverse populations. Solicit peer-reviewed research proposals from academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, health care institutions, and other researchers. The company reviews proposals quarterly, and rejections or approvals are sent out the first week of each quarter, depending on the shipping link.
“We need more study by independent, outside researchers on the mechanisms, generalizability, and gaps in current solutions,” Lauren Lee, vice president of clinical product and content development, wrote in an email. “By studying the specific underlying mechanisms that explain how Headspace impacts positive member outcomes, we can demonstrate which aspect of our Headspace member experience is most powerful for our members, continually refining and iterating our product experience.”
In 2021, the company merged with digital mental health startup Ginger through a $3 billion deal. The combined entity provides meditation, therapy, coaching and psychiatry tools to users and sells its platform to employers and health plans. Its clients include Starbucks, Delta Air Lines and Cigna. Kaiser Permanente also recently Announced is beginning to provide Headspace Health behavioral health training benefits to its members.
One area in particular Headspace Health is looking to researchers to study is the impact of its solutions on underserved populations, Lee said. Improving equity in health has been a key focus for the startup. Recently acquired Shine, an app that works to provide mental health support to underserved communities.
“An important gap that we have identified in the literature is the impact of Headspace on diverse populations,” Lee said. “We look forward to seeing more research evaluating the impact of digital meditation and mindfulness among people in underserved or traditionally underserved communities, clinical populations, and young adults.”
Headspace Health already has 40 studies published in peer-reviewed journals, one of which found which reduced anxiety symptoms by 19% and depression symptoms by 29% after eight weeks of use. But the startup hopes to further ramp up its research so it can find flaws in its services, Lee said.
“An expanded body of research on the outcomes associated with digital mental health and wellness tools will allow us and other digital health companies to identify gaps and strategies to improve the design of our solutions,” he said.
Headspace Health isn’t just asking researchers to study its own company, it wants other digital health startups to do the same, Lee said. Research can help determine what is working and what needs improvement in company offerings.
“We hope to encourage others in the digital mental health space, and those in the digital health industry in general, to critically assess how an investment in research can accelerate the completion of more studies to better understand how digital solutions are moving the needle in the users. ‘ behavioral health and outcomes,” Lee said.
Photo: SIphotography, Getty Images
.
