Online Mental Health Care Is Taking the Spotlight Post‑COVID
After the lockdowns hit hard, a mental‑health crisis is looming across Europe. At the Web Summit in Lisbon, CEOs from top telehealth apps raised the alarm: people need a digital shoulder to lean on.
The Surge in Virtual Consultations
- Johannes Schildt, CEO of Swedish start‑up Kry, said the demand for online therapy grew more than triple in 2020.
- Kry connects patients to nurses and doctors through video visits, serving 25 % of Swedish households.
- Users saw a spike in appointments during the pandemic, and that trend is steady as ever.
Why It Matters
Medical research tells the story: The Lancet reported 76 million new anxiety cases and 53 million new major depression cases that year. Young people and women were hit hardest.
New Digital Tools Coming Out
- Kry launched a smartphone‑based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) program for those struggling with mental stress.
- Originally available in Sweden, the app will roll out across Europe in 2022.
- With at‑home COVID tests proving popular, Schildt predicts a wave of self‑testing that will make medical care even more home‑friendly.
Conclusion: Digital Healthcare Is the New Normal
Digital health “predates the pandemic,” said Schildt, but the crisis accelerated people’s confidence in doing everything from their living rooms. When the world finally gets back to “normal,” the online mental health marketplace will be a boom—and we’ve never seen a better moment to bring the help right to your phone.
Data dilemma
Digital Health on the Rise: $3.3 Billion and Counting
From Kry to Carbon Health, the tech‑savvy side of medicine is stepping up, and the numbers say it’s no joke. Kry just pulled in a whopping $500 million (S$675 million) and is now valued at $2 billion. Meanwhile, the U.S.‑based Carbon Health hit a cool $3.3 billion in its latest Blackstone‑led round.
What’s Fueling the Surge?
When the pandemic kicked off, Carbon Health had one in six users already downloading its app. Fast forward to now: about 80 % of patients carry the app on their phones. Eren Bali, the founder and CEO, told Reuters that “digital usage has skyrocketed.” He expects that trend to only climb higher.
In‑Person Meets Online
- Deep Integration – Bali says mixing virtual systems with face‑to‑face visits is the future. “A radical shift in how people live required a new kind of care,” he noted.
- Last summer, Carbon Health rolled out online mental‑health support, a service that didn’t exist before COVID‑19. The demand was so strong it forced a launch.
Data Dilemma: When Sharing Goes One Step Too Far (Or Not Enough)
The digital boom raises a tough question: How do we securely handle patient data that lives in national health databases and private insurance systems, especially when Europe’s data‑sharing rules vary so much?
“It’s a shame so much data floats around, siloed into different systems,” Schildt lamented. He thinks closer data access would power telemedicine.
In Sweden, people swear by having all their health data synced: “Why don’t you have my vaccination info from 20 years ago?” is a common complaint. That illustrates the chasm between what patients want and what providers can deliver.
Quick Takeaway
- Digital health is moving fast – check the numbers: $2 billion for Kry, $3.3 billion for Carbon Health.
- Mobile apps are now the norm, not the exception.
- Integrating virtual and in‑person care is the next big thing.
- Data sharing is still a pain point, especially in Europe.
So, whether you’re scrolling through your health app or watching your doctor over a video link, one thing’s clear: the future of medicine is on our screens – and it’s only getting better.
