Hey there. Shân here.

Welcome to The Census, your weekly roundup of what matters in behavioral healthcare.

Top stories today: 

1. HEADLINES: Mental health is the biggest societal threat for young Americans, behavioral health coaches are on the rise, and a breakdown of the 2024 BED treatment market report.

2. Money Moves: $26M for an unhappiness cure, $17M for a youth mental health platform, and more. 

3. On Our Radar: A quiet epidemic: 13% of US adults have had their lives disrupted by drug overdose deaths.

4. Catch Up Quick: This week’s top stories in less than a minute.

Let’s go.

P.S. We’re sharing snippets of our research throughout the week on LinkedIn if you’d like more regular bite-sized takeaways.

Reading time: ~4.8 minutes.

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😞 Young Americans Say Poor Mental Health is #1 Public Health Threat

For the first time, American youths consider mental health issues to be the most serious societal threat — outranking opioids, cancer, and access to firearms.

A new survey shows Gen Z is twice as likely to consider mental health as the #1 public health risk compared to Boomers.

❗BUT their emphasis on mental health doesn’t mean they aren’t as concerned about opioids and gun violence as older generations.

It means they understand the root cause of society’s biggest health threats: behavioral and mental health issues. 

And all generations want insurers to take it seriously: 

• Nine out of 10 Americans say payers should cover mental health care on par with physical health

😔 These data mirror a new CDC study showing that teens are experiencing increased stress levels — and they’re turning to substances to cope. 

• Crucially, mental health interventions “could reduce some of the reported motivations for substance use,” the study authors note

Gen Zers may be famous for their idealism and socially progressive dreams, but they’re also facing an unprecedented behavioral health crisis, and are demanding change. 

🧑‍💼 Behavioral Health Coaches Are Gaining Popularity 

They can help patients stay on track — but a lack of regulation raises serious concerns. 

Health coaching in the US is a fast-growing $7B+ industry, and coaches are no longer just for fitness and lifestyle goals. 

Behavioral and mental health coaches are now supporting patients’ well-being in between clinician or peer-specialist sessions, with players like Headspace leading the charge. 

• Providers can ramp up remote behavioral health coaching capacity pretty quickly, and patients can be supported 24/7

Given the huge behavioral health staffing shortage, it makes total sense:

But hold up. The health coaching space is basically unregulated, so while this is a great model in theory, it also has the potential to go horribly wrong.

• Low barriers to entry, lack of standardization, and high financial rewards have already attracted unqualified, predatory practitioners to the health coaching field

• Still, others argue that standardization of behavioral health coaches may hinder patient access

We’re equal parts hopeful and apprehensive, and we’re watching the space – and patient outcomes — closely. Go deeper here. 

🍔 Breakdown of the 2024 Binge-eating Disorder Treatment Market Report 

The traditional BED treatment market’s strong growth will continue — but expect a shake-up from digital solutions.

What you need to know:

• The BED treatment market is set to reach $859M+ by 2028 at a 7.25% CAGR

• Antidepressant medications are expected to remain the treatment frontrunners

Traditional offline distribution channels are forecast to maintain a stronghold, but:

• The infusion of tech into healthcare is opening up fresh possibilities for managing binge eating disorder 

• This is a big deal in the ED space as payers (and investors) increasingly look to digital treatment solutions

Full market report. 

Money Moves

Funding rounds, mergers, & acquisitions

🤸 $26M to find a cure for unhappiness as Matter Neuroscience raises Seed. 

💊 $22M for hybrid SUD treatment provider Eleanor Health’s value-based care platform.

🤝 $450k contract secured for Syra Health with the Shelby County Health Department in Tennessee.

🧒 $17M for tech-backed provider Blackbird Health to expand its youth mental health model.

📊 $40M for personalized care insights and patient data integration platform b.well Connected Health.

📝 $65M for healthcare analytics firm Reveleera to advance sustainable value-based care for health plans and risk-bearing providers.

💻 Dario Health acquired digital health startup Twill to provide personalized online solutions to behavioral health care patients.

💰 Digital health investors want profits, not just growth: “Compared to 2021, when it was really about growth at all costs, there’s definitely a level of renewed focus on profitability.” More here. 

On Our Radar

What we’re watching this week 

❤️‍🩹 An Overlooked Emergency: 13% of US Adults Have Had Their Lives Disrupted by Drug Overdose Deaths

A new study suggests that the US drug crisis’ reach into American life has, if anything, been underestimated.

More than 4 in 10 Americans personally know someone who has died of an overdose, a recent study found. And:

• ~42M adults have had their lives “disrupted” by overdose loss

• ~12.5M people are still feeling a “significant or devastating effect”

Unsurprisingly (but importantly), most people who knew someone who had fatally overdosed said they actually knew multiple people who died from drugs.

➡ This really matters because there’s limited research on the impact of overdose losses. And given that ~13% of the US population have had their lives disrupted as a result, we need to step up support.

What we do know:

• Traumatic bereavement in general harms physical health, and mental health, and raises the risk of SUD

• Overdose death “contagion” should be investigated, and “postvention” for those left behind is critical

Read the full study here and Axios’ report here. 

Catch Up Quick

This week’s top headlines. 

🏛️ More California counties are charging drug dealers with murder as fentanyl overdose deaths surge in the state. 

👀 The newly finalized 42 CFR Part 2 rule’s regulation of addiction treatment records now looks a lot like HIPAA.

💉 A new “fourth wave” of the overdose epidemic has been identified in which stimulants are increasingly co-involved in fentanyl overdose deaths. 

🥳 CMS’ new guidelines mean a new group of behavioral health providers will be eligible for enhanced Medicaid dollars.

💊 Antidepressant prescribing to youths rose 63%+ during the pandemic, with adolescent girls accounting for some of the sharpest increases.

❤️ The Release Foundation launched a new youth fund to provide scholarships for SUD and mental health treatment to those who can’t afford it.

🤝 Accolade welcomed Brightline to their Trusted Partner Ecosystem.

🧠 Digital behavioral health provider Lyra will launch an SMI platform.

🤔 Only 37% of medical practices receive value-based care payments.

🏕️ Embark will shutter its Wilderness Therapy divisions as behavioral health shifts away from outdoor therapy for teens. 

🔊 Pequot Health Care announced a new partnership with the nonprofit Root Center for Advanced Recovery.

💻 Digital platform Anise Health is expanding into three new states and as a result will support ~50% of America’s Asian population. 

🎉 More flexibility for OUD treatment was made permanent as the HHS and SAMHSA voted to officially keep standards introduced during COVID-19.

📱 Talkspace will focus on expanding its services to both teens and seniors via new partnerships with schools and municipalities, and increasing its Medicare reach.

🏥 Eating disorder treatment provider EDCare announced a new gender-inclusive Partial Hospitalization Program for adults in Omaha, Nebraska.

🔄 Blue Ridge Eating Disorder Care Center is now in-network with both Geisinger Health Plan & Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.

🫡 New leadership announced for the Eating Disorders Treatment Facilitators Task Force.

💳 As states fight back against prior authorization woes, Gold Carding is expanding across the country, with several states already implementing the legislature in some way.

🏛️ Good news for behavioral health providers’ standing with insurers as the Supreme Court rejects UnitedHealth’s claim denial appeal. 

🤕 93% of physicians feel burned out and overburdened — and 83% are hopeful that AI solutions will change this.

🥾 Given the boot: Transcranial magnetic stimulation and Spravato provider Greenbrook TMS has been kicked off the Nasdaq amid struggles to maintain share prices.  

🤬 As No Surprises Act disputes continue to rise, providers (unsurprisingly) blame insurers — who they believe have been taking advantage of the law.

🪖 Free ketamine therapy will be provided to eligible veterans thanks to a new partnership between Avesta and Veterans Affairs.

🚭 Spring Health Partners with 2Morrow to launch a new smoking cessation program.

That’s it for this week. See you next Wednesday!

- Shân

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