Ryan Stancil,
Editor
April 7, 2021
Editor's Note: Yesterday we sent you Part I of a four-part series from my new report on health care, "Healthcare in a Post-COVID World: Four Profitable Trends to Watch".
I hope you enjoy Part II below... an in-depth look at the effects of the pandemic on mental health — and the technology coming out of that sector.
Please keep an eye out tomorrow for the third chapter.
Enjoy.
— Ryan
"Healthcare in a Post-COVID World:
Four Profitable Trends to Watch"
PART II
Loneliness and Social Isolation/Mental Health
The effect that the pandemic has had on physical health can’t be denied, but its effects on mental health are often overlooked.
People have had to go an entire year not being able to see friends and family members, or simply go to their favorite bars and other places that encourage them to socialize. These things take their toll and many experts think that this could lead to a second epidemic of people coping with issues related to their mental health due to prolonged isolation.
What many people don’t often realize about failing mental health is that it can have a domino effect on other aspects of health. People experiencing stress related to long-term isolation and loneliness are more susceptible to ailments like depression, poor sleep quality, and possible decline of cognitive function. There have also been links claiming that loneliness and prolonged social isolation are threats to heart health and immune system function.
It’s a problem that’s been studied for decades, largely with a focus on elderly populations not just here in the U.S. but in countries throughout Europe and Asia as well. While it’s often associated with the elderly, it’s a known issue among all age groups. It’s gotten so much attention in Japan, for instance, that the country’s government recently appointed a Minister of Loneliness, whose job is to deal with the causes behind isolation and loneliness.
With a year of forced isolation behind us, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that governments all over may start looking at the issue the same way Japan has. Children haven’t been able to socialize with others their own age in person, babies born during 2020 have been missing out on crucial development, and seniors in long-term care facilities haven’t been able to receive visits from loved ones. As you can see, no one is truly, completely safe from what many are seeing as a silent pandemic that could end up being just as deadly as the one we all endured in 2020.
With social contact being such an important part of society, there need to be effective solutions in combating the effects of long-term isolation that many people will be facing over the next few years.
Digital therapy is one solution that could help. Digital healthcare has already largely supplemented, and replaced in some cases, physical visits to doctors’ offices and the same idea is being applied to mental health services like psychologist visits. Not only does it allow people to get the care they need safely, but it also allows for more options. People seeking mental health services aren’t limited to professionals within driving distance. There are also solutions like chatbots and digital cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) programs that can provide aid to people who have needs that might not quite require the expertise of a mental health professional.
One name in this area to watch is emerging company Talkspace. The company is an up and comer in the online therapy space and has a network of licensed providers who are vetted and trained to meet necessary healthcare requirements.
As of the time of this writing, Talkspace is a private company, but in January 2021, it merged with Hudson Executive Investment in a $1.4 billion deal that will give Talkspace $250 million to invest in its growth. It’s going to need it, too, because the company has over 1.5 million clients and therapists in all 50 states.
When its merger with Hudson Executive Investment is complete, the company will list on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol TALK.
Keep your eyes open,
Ryan Stancil
Editor, Daily Profit Cycle
Ryan Stancil is an editor and regular contributor to Daily Profit Cycle. He’s been active in the financial publishing industry for more than half a decade, offering insights and commentary on technology and geopolitics to help readers make sense of the constantly changing landscape and how it affects their investments. His readers appreciate his "tell it as it is" writing style, where he always offers a fresh new perspective on what's happening in the market and leaves nothing unsaid.