Hims & Hers Expands Mental Health Offerings
We’re launching one-on-one access to a mental health provider and introducing Julian Cohen as our Senior Vice President of Behavioral Health
Hims & Hers was founded on the belief that people should be able to easily access the care they need, when they need it. The reality is that navigating the U.S. healthcare system is often complex and overwhelming, and nowhere is this more true than for people seeking mental healthcare. From stigma, to surprise costs and high deductibles, to a nationwide shortage of providers, patients face an alarming set of obstacles.
We started thinking about how we could build access to a first-in-class, virtual mental health program well over a year ago. We took a look at what was available in the market and talked to experts and providers in the field. Most importantly, we knew we needed to hear directly from those who were struggling to access care. After listening to over 1,300 prospective patients, we realized the existing options left many people out — they were expensive and inflexible, and patients felt stuck in one-size-fits-all programs. Instead, people wanted a range of choices at a variety of price points, with the ability to alter their level of engagement as needed.
In response to that feedback we launched free anonymous group support sessions in April, covering everything from coping with COVID-19 to anxiety management and relationship advice. Today, we’re announcing an expansion of our mental healthcare offering, enabling one-to-one access to a licensed mental health provider for treatment of anxiety and depression. We’re initially making this service available to patients in New York and California, and plan to expand across the U.S. later this year.
We know we’ll only be successful if we continue building the industry’s best clinical and operational team, which is why we’re pleased to welcome Julian Cohen as our first-ever Senior Vice President of Behavioral Health. Julian brings decades of experience in virtual behavioral health and he’ll help bolster our mental healthcare offering. Prior to Hims & Hers, Julian co-founded Breakthrough Behavioral before its acquisition by MDLive, and led the Behavioral Health division at Teladoc. Julian’s experience and passion will be incredible assets as we work to make care available for more people. He will join our suite of experts which includes Dr. Steven Powell, our Clinical Speciality Advisor for our mental health offerings. Dr. Powell is a board certified Psychiatrist and Clinical Instructor of Psychiatry at Dartmouth.
“Hims & Hers was founded to break down the barriers to accessing care and eliminate stigma, both critically important efforts if we want to improve mental healthcare in this country,” said Julian Cohen. “I’m thrilled to be joining the company to continue to build out its mental health category of care, and help Hims & Hers address the increasing need for mental health providers and treatments.”
We’ve intentionally built a streamlined process that gives patients access to a safe and high-quality experience. The first step for any patient will be a video visit with a provider to discuss their symptoms, condition and treatment plan. All patients will have periodic mandatory and optional check-ins to assess their mental health, and to answer provider questions about the efficacy of the medication and any side effects they may be experiencing.
Psychiatry is a prohibitively expensive area of treatment, regardless of whether or not you have insurance coverage. We’re proud that initial mental health consultations will be accessible through our platform for $59, representing a fraction of what patients would typically expect to pay for this type of visit.
At a time when we’re experiencing an escalating mental healthcare crisis — with more than one in three Americans reporting symptoms of depression or anxiety — it’s critical we find a way to increase access to mental healthcare for those in need. We hear from the Hims & Hers community every day about what it means when getting the care you need is straightforward and affordable: no more waiting weeks for an appointment, no surprise fees hidden at the bottom of a bill, and no feelings of embarrassment when you want to ask about a symptom. It’s access to care, on your terms. You deserve it across all areas of your life, including your mental health.
