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In greater recognition that minority and marginalized populations have unique mental health challenges that require cultural understanding, digital mental health provider Headspace Health announced An app that aims to make mental health support available to everyone got a boost Thursday.
Created by a black woman and a half-Japanese woman, the Shine app has over 45,000 paid users and over 90 enterprise customers. Based in New York City, Shin has reached more than 6 million people by providing self-directed content — including daily meditation, self-help courses and personal support, as well as virtual workshops hosted by third-party experts.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed. According to executives at Headspace Health Shiny Particularly committed to serving those in marginalized communities, this acquisition will help Headspace Health enhance its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) efforts.
“We believe that by acquiring Sheen now, we will be able to significantly enhance our DEIB efforts by bringing in a team with experience challenging similar operations for the past six years and aligning with our vision, mission and values at Headspace Health. he said. Head position Health CEO Russ Glass.
In the deal, Santa Monica, Calif.-based Headspace Health will integrate Sheen’s team, technology and curate content into the platform, which offers mindfulness and meditation tools, therapy, coaching, psychiatry and other resources.
Marah Leeday and Naomi Hirabayashi, co-founders and CEOs of Shine, will both play leadership roles at Headspace Health. Leday will hold a product leadership position and Hirabayashi will join the marketing team.
The two first founded the company in 2016 because they felt their bodies, skin color, financial means, and past experiences were not understood by white mental health professionals or other mental health applications.
We felt (and still feel) very important to validate our experiences. [people of color] – are better represented in the mental health and wellness space and more reflective of our national population,” Hirabayashi said.
Joining Headspace Health will allow Sheen to continue his health equity mission but on a larger scale, Leday said.
“We feel we can best achieve our mission – disrupting the traditional mental health and wellness world with more inclusive support – with Headspace Health’s scale and brand recognition,” said Leeday. “We will be a joint venture. It can share our content designed for underrepresented communities. [Black, Indigenous and people of color] society”
While customers may not see a big change right away, Glass said he expects the deal to result in improved service down the road.
“Long-term, Ginger and Headspace members and customers can expect an improved member experience, including more inclusive member content and improved automation in our products,” he said.
Last year, it acquired Headspace Health GingerAn AI-powered device that offers text-based coaching and teletherapy visits for $3 billion.
Photo: Peterpencil, Getty Images
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