Expanding Access

Preventative mental health education is essential for student success, and integrating quick, practical tools into daily routines can foster emotional resilience and prevent crises. In this episode, Tessa Zimmerman, founder of Upstream Education, discusses her mission to revolutionize mental health education for students. She talks about her struggles with severe panic attacks as a child and how i...

To expand mental healthcare access and balance operational growth with quality care for diverse populations, including underserved communities and teens. In this episode, Julia Bernstein, Chief Operations Officer at Brightside Health, explores the challenges and innovations in scaling quality mental health care to underserved populations. She talks about leveraging evidence-based practices to ensu...

Integrating behavioral health into OB practices and utilizing telehealth is critical to addressing the maternal mental health crisis and improving outcomes for families. In this episode, Dr. Jessica Gaulton, CEO of Family Well, discusses the intersection of perinatal mental health and technology, focusing on collaborative care. She discusses how innovative care models are addressing critical gaps...

Asynchronous therapy and telehealth expand access to mental healthcare, especially for underserved populations, through scalable, technology-driven approaches. In this episode, Erin Boyd, Chief Growth Officer at Talkspace, discusses the evolving landscape of digital behavioral health. She emphasizes how innovative approaches like asynchronous therapy and telehealth are breaking barriers in mental...

Maternal mental health care is undergoing a transformation through cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions. In this episode, Malekeh Amini, CEO and founder of Trayt Health, shares how her personal experiences with maternal mental health have driven her passion for improving care and prevention through Trayt’s platform. This platform enhances providers' access via integrated care models an...

Handwritten letters foster human connection, bridging cultural and systemic gaps in mental health care and empowering individuals, even in underserved communities, to feel heard and supported. In this episode, Diana Chao, founder of Letters to Strangers, discusses how her personal struggles with mental health led her to create a global youth mental health NGO that spans 72 countries. She also disc...

AI-driven healthcare solutions can revolutionize behavioral health by optimizing schedules, improving patient matching, and enhancing operational efficiency. In this episode, Plamen Petrov, CEO of Healee, shares how AI-driven solutions are addressing critical challenges in healthcare scheduling. He also discusses the importance of provider-patient matching and operational optimization through tech...

Psychedelics are transforming mental health care accessibility and treatment. In this episode, Dr. Dana Lerman shares her journey from being an infectious disease consultant to founding Skylight Psychedelics after facing personal mental health struggles during the COVID pandemic. She discusses her transformative experiences with psychedelic-assisted therapy, including an ayahuasca retreat, and how...

Innovative psychiatric care models are reshaping how we address behavioral health crises. In this episode, Colin LeClair, CEO of Connections, discusses Connections' freestanding emergency psychiatric units that provide alternatives to traditional hospital settings, aiming to rapidly stabilize patients in crisis and reduce the burden on hospitals. Colin addresses significant barriers to behavioral...

FDA-cleared digital mental health treatments are transforming behavioral healthcare by improving access, affordability, and clinical rigor. In this episode, Dr. Jenna Carl, Chief Medical Officer at Big Health, discusses the transformative potential of FDA-cleared digital mental health treatments. She explains how these evidence-based, automated programs address critical challenges like accessibili...

The power of lived experiences has been harnessed to create a transformative platform for advancing mental health and expanding access for all. In this episode, Solome Tibebu, Founder and CEO of Behavioral Health Tech, shares her journey from personal struggles with anxiety and OCD to building the largest community focused on advancing mental health and substance use care through technology. She d...

Neurodivergent care is being revolutionized through technology and innovation. In this episode, Christal Wang, co-founder and CEO of Shimmer, at the Behavioral Health Tech Conference in Arizona, discusses Shimmer's strengths-based coaching platform for individuals with ADHD. She emphasizes shifting the perception of neurodivergence from a deficit-focused to a strengths-focused approach. Christal e...

Telehealth initiatives in schools are expanding access to mental health services, ensuring students receive the care they need. In this episode of the Expanding Access Podcast, Kacie Kelly, Chief Innovation Officer at Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, explains how the Institute bridges policy and practice in mental health technology through innovative partnerships. She highlights significant...

Lived recovery experiences strengthen Sober Sidekick's support systems for individuals battling substance use disorders. In this episode of the Expanding Access podcast by Behavioral Health Tech, Christopher Thompson, founder and CEO of Sober Sidekick, shares his personal recovery journey and the inspiration behind his app, which aims to create a supportive recovery community through peer support....

Incorporating lived recovery experiences improves Wayspring's programs for Medicaid recipients with substance use disorders. In this episode of the Expanding Access podcast by Behavioral Health Tech, we meet Ashley Potts, vice president of operations at Wayspring, during the Behavioral Health Tech Conference in Arizona. With 18 years of recovery from substance use, Ashley shares how her lived expe...