Digital Mental Health Market Is Booming: Here Are The Black-Owned Mental Health Apps To Help You Get Support
According to Zion Market Research, the digital mental health market was valued at $1.4 billion (£1.1billion) in 2017 and is projected to reach $4.6 billion in 2026.
Still, it has often been claimed that many of these apps do not cater to the specific challenges that Black, Indigenous, and people of color face.
That’s why we’ve dug a bit deeper to find the apps that put inclusion and diversity at the forefront of their mission and have a mission to ensure everyone gets support.
Therapy for Black Girls
Therapy for Black Girls consists of a hub of resources and counseling created by Dr. Joy Harden Bradford for other Black women.
Sharing everything from anonymous questions that we all wish we had the courage to ask to self-help tools and booking resources to find a therapist that is just right for you, this self-care hub for Black women is worth supporting on your healing journey.
Shine app, founded by Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree Marah Lidey and Naomi Hirabayashi, is a self-care app that helps people “rest, heal, and grow through difficulty.” The Black-owned app was created in 2016, but its offerings—including more than 600 guided meditations, morning inspiration texts, customizable mental health tool kits, and community forums—are in higher demand in light of two ongoing pandemics. The company also has a corporate offering for employers to offer to its staff.
Talley
This UK-based platform, founded by Lara Cena in 2019, is an anonymous listening service. “We provide a safe place where people can speak to someone confidentially and be listened to,” the website states.
Talley app users have profiles that allow people to connect based on similar experiences and share their stories confidentially. The company also hosts weekly Talley Talks every Saturday, exploring different topics centered on health and wellness.
BRO
A substantial increase in mental health problems such as depression and stress have been reported among men during the COVID-19 pandemic across the globe, warranting the need for improved mental healthcare resources for men.
BRO.— a first-of-its-kind 3-in-1 mental health platform for men – is here to try to change the narrative. It provides a personalized marketplace with a range of services to choose from (career coaching, music therapy, group sessions to cognitive behavioral therapy) led by professionals. It also offers entertaining and educating content by men for men plus much more.
The Loveland Foundation
The Loveland Foundation, established by Rachel Cargle, has provided therapy support to over 10,000 Black women, girls, and gender nonbinary individuals since 2018.
They offer resources and collaborative initiatives that prioritize opportunity, access, validation, and healing among communities of color — with a focus on Black women and girls. Through this work, they seek to contribute to the empowerment and the liberation of communities across the U.S.
With finances being a significant barrier to seeking mental health services, The Loveland Therapy Fund specifically provides financial assistance to Black women and girls across the U.S.
Therapy for Black Men
Therapy for Black Men is set on shattering the existing stigma.
With a rapidly growing directory of over 200 licensed therapists and 40 coaches throughout the U.S., they offer a judgment-free, multiculturally-experienced service to Black men.
Their social media presence alone gives us hope that this organization is helping create a safe space for Black men to begin addressing their mental health.
