The WHO recognizes mental health as a fundamental human right and emphasizes the need for comprehensive, accessible, and high-quality mental health services. However, access to quality care remains a significant challenge for many, including entrepreneurs. Fortunately, innovative startups are leveraging the power of AI to bridge this gap and provide scalable solutions for mental wellbeing for all.

Mental health is a critical concern especially within the demanding and often isolating world of startups. The founder journey can be incredibly lonely, and the pressure to succeed often takes a toll on mental wellbeing. Studies show that entrepreneurs are 50% more likely to report having a mental health condition.

Google for Startups is proud to support these pioneers through our Growth Academy: AI for Health program in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. This initiative provides mentorship, resources, and a global network to help startups scale their impact and drive innovation in the healthcare sector, including those leveraging responsible AI to develop products in the mental health space.

This World Mental Health Day, I'm excited to introduce you to a few inspiring startups from the program who are using AI to transform mental health support and improve the daily lives of people around the world:

O7 Therapy (Egypt)

O7 Therapy is creating an AI-driven platform that matches patients with the most suitable therapists based on their specific needs and preferences. This helps individuals find the right support more efficiently and improves the chances of successful treatment outcomes.

Callyope (France)

Callyope builds speech-based foundational models to analyze patient behaviors and monitor symptoms across various mental health conditions. By providing clinicians with insight on treatment efficacy or potential relapse, Callyope helps take the guesswork out of mental health treatment and ensure patients receive timely, tailored interventions for best possible outcomes. Hear from cofounder Martin

HearMe (Poland)

This platform uses AI-powered chatbots to provide immediate support and resources to individuals experiencing mental health distress. By offering 24/7 availability and personalized guidance, HearMe aims to reduce barriers to accessing help and improve early intervention.

Thalia Psychotherapy (Kenya)

Thalia Psychotherapy is developing AI-powered tools to assist therapists in analyzing patient conversations and identifying potential mental health concerns. This technology helps therapists provide more personalized and data-driven care, leading to better outcomes for patients.

Learn more about the Google for Startups Growth Academy: AI for Health program and the participating startups on startup.google.com.

You can also learn more about Google’s work in health at health.google.com.