DOCTOR CARE ANYWHERE STRENGTHENS ITS SUPPORT FOR PATIENTS’ MENTAL HEALTH DURING COVID THROUGH NEW COLLABORATION

DOCTOR CARE ANYWHERE STRENGTHENS ITS SUPPORT FOR PATIENTS’ MENTAL HEALTH DURING COVID

THROUGH NEW COLLABORATION

Responding to rapidly growing demand in the UK for mental health services and support, Doctor Care Anywhere

(‘DCA’), one of the UK’s leading providers of digital health services, is increasing its presence and participation

in this important market segment by developing new best-in-class mental health services in collaboration with

Koa Health, a digital mental health care provider, and Kooth, a leading online mental health platform.

Through these collaborations, in addition to DCA’s GPs being able to identify and advise on complex physical

and mental health conditions for their patients, they will also be able to provide them with access to additional

and specialist support as part of an integrated mental health solution. The services will initially be made

available to selected DCA patients, whereby patients will be able to access a range of programmes, including

audio clips, meditations and games designed to enhance sleep and relaxation and combat depression, offered

by Koa Health. Furthermore, outreach on an anonymous basis to an online peer community, offered by Kooth,

with trained professionals monitoring and engaging with users to ensure safety and effectiveness of service at

all times, will also be available to DCA patients.

Dr Bayju Thakar, founder and CEO of Doctor Care Anywhere said: “at DCA we have long taken very seriously the

effects of mental health issues on our patients, their families and communities. So often, mental health

symptoms can be substantially alleviated by early, thoughtful and sensitive interventions, by taking an

integrated, holistic approach to treating both physical and mental health conditions. We are, therefore, pleased

to be working with colleagues at Koa Health and Kooth, who share our vision and passion for providing excellent

care, as we enhance our pathways of mental health and wellbeing services, allowing us to continue providing

patients with appropriate and timely care.”

Dr Oliver Harrison, CEO of Koa Health said: “Our goal is to provide easy access to a range of digital mental

health solutions which help people flourish in a challenging and changing world. Through our collaboration

with Doctor Care Anywhere we want to close the growing demand gap in mental health care and provide

patients with access to personalised products which meet their individual mental health needs. There has

never been a more important time for this type of support, and a better opportunity to eliminate stigma and

open access to mental health services for good.”

Tim Barker, Chief Executive Officer of Kooth said: "We are delighted to be a part of this ground-breaking

initiative, helping to bring digital mental health care to Doctor Care Anywhere patients, their families and

communities. Demand for mental health services is stronger than ever and digital services play a crucial role in

getting mental health support to people at the right time. The collaboration with Doctor Care Anywhere

provides a real opportunity to bring Kooth's 20 years of experience and strong track record in delivering high

quality mental health services to a wider audience."

These high-quality services are another building block in DCA’s development of a market-leading mental health

offering that integrates services across different platforms, and makes customisable digital and in-person

treatment options available to patients, in order to deliver optimal clinical effectiveness. DCA anticipates

enhancing its integrated mental health offering with additional services over the next 12 months.

DCA has seen a significant rise over the last 12 months in mental health-related appointments, with more than

10% of patients presenting with mental health conditions. This is confirmed by a recent survey conducted by

the Office of National Statistics which found that nearly one in five adult Britons have suffered from some form

of depression and almost 50% said their sense of wellbeing had been adversely affected by Covid-19 1.

1 https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandwellbeing/bulletins/coronavirusandthesocialimpactson

greatbritain/11december2020