Clearhead

Clearhead is a one-stop-shop online mental health platform empowering Kiwis and Aussies to find the help they need, through simple and secure access to mental health providers.

Transform Therapy Access and Matching

In any given year, 20% of the population will need mental health support, which is equal to over 1 million people in New Zealand. Around 47% of Kiwis will experience mental health issues throughout their lifetime. However, there is a treatment gap for those who need professional support, with up to 78% of people not receiving the care they need. Improving access to professional mental health support that is relevant to the patient is fundamental to improving this outcome.

Clearhead is an online mental health platform empowering Kiwis and Australians to find the help they need, through simple and secure access to mental health providers through their online booking platform.

They have identified an opportunity to improve the user experience of the booking platform as many users who begin the booking process do not complete it and so do not access the support they seek. There is a paradox of choice where the process can be overwhelming to the user with various therapy options and search parameters.

With our funding support they want to improve their platform’s accessibility to appropriate mental health support. This will be achieved through AI integration to improve the platform’s capability to match users with the best therapist for their needs.

The upgraded booking platform will provide more personalised recommendations to users much earlier in the booking process. This will help to simplify the users experience and make it more likely they will go on to book an appointment and access appropriate mental health support for their needs with a significantly shorter wait time. By improving the booking process and connecting people to the right kind of support, Clearhead hopes to address the treatment gap in mental health challenges.

Past project

In 2019, the New Zealand Mental Health Enquiry found the demand for mental health support among Kiwis was outgrowing the support available. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbates this demand. Similar research by ASMS (Association of salaried medical specialist) shows that 90% of public funding in New Zealand focuses on severe and complex mental health needs, rather than ongoing mental health and wellbeing support to prevent crisis point.

Clearhead is a one-stop-shop online mental health platform empowering Kiwis to find the help they need, through simple and secure access to mental health providers.

Insights from Clearhead’s data analytics revealed loneliness and a lack of purpose as two leading causes of psychological distress amongst young people.

In response to this and with our funding support, Clearhead have worked with a group of young adults from the public, mental health professionals, and a wider set of users to co-design an interactive digital wellbeing tool, to help young adults find their purpose in life. The interactive digital sits on their online platform, providing on-demand support for people not in crisis, but whose mental health would strongly benefit from personal growth. The tool seeks to help people make meaning of their adversity and develop more purpose in their life.

The digital wellbeing tool takes a personalised strengths-based approach to empower individuals to cope with their stress, anxiety, or/and depression symptoms and build long-term resilience. By helping Kiwis develop a sense of purpose and identity through the digital process, Clearhead hopes to support them to live a more fulfilling life. Through building a stronger sense of self, this tool will also enable youth to form healthier relationships and social connections, reducing loneliness and helping to improve their emotional and social wellbeing.

Past project

Clearhead is a one-stop-shop online mental health platform focused on wellbeing that will empower Kiwis to find the help they need through simple and secure access to mental health providers.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, mental health service providers and call centres have recorded an unprecedented demand for their services.

At the same time, mental health providers have been facing their own challenges, with many impacted by the challenges or costs associated with having to use multiple third-party digital tools to continue to provide their services via telehealth and meet the demand.

nib and nib foundation partnered with Clearhead in New Zealand, to expand their online platform to include a secure, online telehealth service, which has enabled therapists and support groups to continue to deliver crucial mental health services to more Kiwis across the country, even under COVID-19 restrictions.

The funding has allowed providers to use the telehealth service at no cost, during COVID-19. In addition, Clearhead also partnered with a group of mental health professionals to offer a series of weekly online facilitated peer support groups – thought to be the first of its kind in New Zealand - for doctors dealing with the pressures of the pandemic.

The expansion of the Clearhead platform helped facilitate 850 one-on-one therapy sessions in 2020.

Through increased accessibility to mental health and wellbeing tools and resources, Clearhead aimed to reduce the barriers the New Zealand community were facing when accessing mental health support during COVID-19 and enable more people to seek proactive help from the comfort of their own home.

The aim is to help prevent immediate and lasting mental health impacts and maintain the mental resilience of mental health professionals who have been under increased pressure due to the pandemic.