Hey there! I’m Mel and you’re reading Issue No. 000 of Headlines, a newsletter covering the mental health industry.

Our mission? To be a hub of knowledge where people can stay informed on trends, challenges, and solutions in the mental health space.

The story behind Headlines

When I was 18 years old and a freshman in college, I began wrestling with bouts of anxiety and depression.

Adult life was overwhelming. The pressure to perform was paralyzing. And I was on my own for the first time in my life, hundreds of miles from family and friends. 

That year was the first time I went online and Googled “therapist near me.” But I was living on ramen in a triple dorm — paying $150/hr for a session seemed ludicrous. 

Next best thing? I signed up for a free texting app that was slow, impersonal, and frustrating. By the end of the month, I’d given up on getting help. 

Our mental healthcare system is broken. Like me, most people end up coping with their psychological reality, suffering quietly in isolation. Others, due to stigma, never seek out help. 

Whether it’s access, affordability, or awareness, the barriers to mental healthcare today are far too high. These have serious consequences —  from lost productivity to healthcare costs, analysts estimate the economic fallout to be in the trillions. 

In response, the mental health landscape has taken off in recent years. Today we have ketamine clinics and breathwork apps, VR therapy and meditation orbs, all contributing to a global market projected to clear $500B by 2030. And there has never been more interest in the space: 

• 86% of employers say employee mental health is a top priority. 

• Momentum is steadily building for psychedelic policy reform.

• We spent nearly half a billion on mental wellness apps in 2022.

The industry is reaching an inflection point. But the story’s far from straightforward. 

Despite all our new tech, our collective mental health has continued to plummet. Employees are burning out en masse, therapist shortages are reaching a fever pitch, and we’ve barely begun to see the impact COVID lockdowns have had on kids. 

Meanwhile, leading teletherapy startups have had a rough year, coming under fire for unethical practices. And even as the psychedelic renaissance builds, many are wary of Big Pharma closing in with profits—not patients—as the priority. 

All of this is to say… Solving the mental health crisis will be a complex challenge. True emotional metamorphosis isn’t easily scalable or one-size-fits-all. And with the landscape evolving rapidly, there’s a lot to keep tabs on. 

That’s where Headlines comes in. 

Our north star: Build a hub of knowledge, empathy, and healing where investors, founders, and professionals can stay informed and collab on solutions to the mental health crisis. 

Every Sunday AM, early enough to enjoy with your morning coffee, I’ll break down the most important developments from the week.

Topics we’ll explore:

🍄 Psychedelics as therapy 

🌿 Emerging/alt therapies like IFS, EMDR, and TMS

🤖 Mental health tech like AI bots, wearables, and VR therapy

🧘🏻‍♀️ Meditation, breathwork, and other mindfulness-based practices

🏋 Other systems that impact mental health (social, physical, spiritual)

🙇🏾 Holistic approaches to burnout, anxiety, depression, and other mental ails

Whether you’re an operator in mental health or simply passionate about the space, I’d love to have you along. And if you have any feedback, Qs, or comments, I’m all ears! 

See you around,Mel

P.S. Know anyone else working in mental health or interested in the space? I'd be stoked to chat — hit reply to this email and I’ll get back to you. 

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