For years, many have thought that mental health and wellbeing was being put to the wayside, not deemed as important as physical wellbeing.
Slowly that sentiment is changing, but for those who struggle, maybe things aren’t changing fast enough. Especially since many people struggled through the Covid-19 pandemic.
The pandemic itself was not only dangerous for our physical wellbeing but global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by 25% which is a staggering amount.
Many people find themselves coping using mental health apps, online forums/facebook groups where they can discuss with other sufferers and paying out of pocket for expensive therapy.
This is where Israeli start-up “Circles” saw a problem to be fixed.
A subscription-based platform allowing users who are facing or undergoing similar life challenges are matched into groups and asked to meet weekly with trained and vetted mental health professionals in a group situation to help them overcome these challenges. Group therapy has been proven to be effective in coping with symptoms of depression, lowering negative psychosocial outcomes and improving overall physical and mental health for patients and their families.
Created due to CEO, Irad Eichler’s own struggle with his mother who had battled cancer. She felt lonely and unable to express herself, despite being surrounded by friends and family. In her own words she felt that “nobody really understood her” or what she was going through, that is until she spoke with a colleague who was also battling cancer and he noticed a massive difference in how she spoke, and her mood afterwards. It seemed that she only felt relief when speaking with others going through the same thing. After Eichler’s mother passed away, feeling alone in his own grief because his own father could not empathize with him the same way that his siblings, or others who had lost a parent could.
Those are the reasons behind Circles.
Proof that the human connection of people going through similar life events can and do provide invaluable comfort and support.
Read more here - https://www.geektime.com/circles-closes-series-a-16-5-million/
