Mental Health Tech Insider: Where Technology Meets Mental Health

Welcome to the fourth issue of Mental Health Tech Insider —your compass for navigating the intersection of technology and mental health. Whether you’re an investor, entrepreneur, advisor, or simply fascinated by the industry’s evolution, this newsletter is designed for you.

This week, we dive into neuromodulation—the process of rewiring the brain to treat mental health issues (among others), examine investment trends in behavioral health, and explore why the U.S. Surgeon General is advocating for warning labels on social media platforms.

P.S. I'll be in Israel from mid-July to mid-August. If you're interested in discussing mental health tech, let's talk.

Love, Maria

Technologies Transforming Mental Health

One of the most exciting opportunities in mental health tech is the idea that we can "rewire" our brain. In scientific terms, this is called neuromodulation, the process of changing nerve activity through targeted delivery of a stimulus.?

How it works? Neuromodulation therapies work by stimulating nerves to produce natural biological responses or by applying controlled amounts of pharmaceutical agents to alter pain signals. They are used to treat various neurological, neuropsychiatric, and mental disorders, especially when traditional medications don’t work. In a nutshell, neuromodulation aims to reestablish neural balance, similar to how a cardiac pacemaker corrects heart rhythm abnormalities.

What’s really promising is that there are non-invasive ways to achieve neuromodulation. Research is constantly evolving to optimize stimulation parameters, develop closed-loop systems, combine neuromodulation with other therapies, and explore new stimulation targets and techniques. This means the potential applications go beyond depression to include anxiety disorders, OCD, PTSD, and more.

If you are curious, here are some examples of the non-invasive neuromodulation techniques currently being used and researched:

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS): FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression, with a good efficacy and safety profile.

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS): Being investigated for various mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety.

Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS): Being explored for its potential to modulate brain oscillations and cognitive processes.

Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS): FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression, showing long-term benefits for some patients with severe depression.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT): Still considered one of the most effective treatments for severe, treatment-resistant depression.

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS): While more invasive, it has shown promise for severe, treatment-resistant depression cases.

Like with any developing field, there's a need to better understand neural networks and mechanisms of action, optimize patient selection, and address ethical and economic considerations for wider access. Advances in our understanding of neuroanatomical networks and how simulations work, along with developments in material science, and delivery, have the potential to expand the use of neuromodulation therapies and devices.

Market Trends

A recent review of healthcare investments highlights a rising interest in behavioral health, largely driven by private equity. Since 2018, PE has been behind over 60% of behavioral health deals. This matches the growing demand, as the US suicide rate increased by 16% from 2011 to 2022. The market is expected to grow from $83 billion in 2023 to over $115 billion by 2030.

From the Market

Ventures & Visionaries podcast

Last month, I had an insightful conversation with Mordy Hackel on the Ventures & Visionaries podcast about the transformative impact of AI and technology on the mental health sector. We discussed how technology can help address the mental health crisis, the implications of allowing companies access to our most personal and vulnerable moments, and the importance of curiosity in keeping pace with rapid advancements. Full episode: https://www.venturesandvisionaries.com/2296592/15116954-unlocking-human-potential-with-ai-and-behavioral-insights?

From Science to Behavior?

This might be old news, but in case you’ve missed it: research shows that social media is a significant factor in growing mental health issues, with teens spending more than three hours a day on these platforms facing twice the risk of anxiety and depression. FYI by summer 2023, the average daily use for this age group was 4.8 hours.

Earlier this week, the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, suggested adding warning labels to social media platforms, similar to those on alcohol and tobacco, to flag the mental health risk for young people.

In a world full of tech, stay human, see human,

Maria

About the author:

I am Dr. Maria Blekher, a behavioral scientist, growth strategist, and investor with a robust background in consumer behavior and market strategies. I hold a PhD from Ben Gurion University and a postdoc at NYU, leading to my role as the founding director of the YU Innovation Lab in the heart of the NYC tech ecosystem. My expertise centers on bridging market entry gaps for startups, aligning go-to-market strategies with profound consumer behavior insights and market dynamics, and cultivating strategic partnerships. Driven by a mission to make an impact and enhance the human experience through technological innovation, my partner Avi Yaron and I are launching Serendipity Impact VC—investing in early-stage, disruptive neuro and mental health startups.

P.S. If you are curious to find out more:

Frontiers in Neuroscience. (2024). Research hotspots and frontiers of neuromodulation techniques in disorders of consciousness: A bibliometric analysis.

Neuromodulation: Technology at the Neural Interface.?

International Neuromodulation Society. (2022). Neuromodulation Research.

Morrell, M. (2021). Neuromodulation in 2035. PMC - NCBI.

Ward, M., et al. (2018). The 50 Most Cited Articles in Invasive Neuromodulation. Science Direct