DIGITAL YOUTH
MENTAL HEALTH
Identifying investment opportunities that enhance mental health outcomes for youth
The Opportunity
Youth mental health is at a crisis point, with over 21% of young Americans experiencing mental or behavioral health disorders, compounded by barriers like systemic inequities and limited access to care. Despite significant interest and investment in behavioral health, youth-specific solutions remain underfunded and underdeveloped. Historically, only a fraction of venture funding has been directed toward digital solutions for young people, even as mental health challenges among this group escalate.
However, new technologies offer unprecedented opportunities to address these needs. Young people are digitally native and open to virtual mental health care, creating a unique moment to develop tailored solutions that meet their needs. Technology can expand access, improve affordability, and deliver scalable, impactful care. To fully unlock this potential, innovators need insight, funding, and partnerships
that center equity and prioritize the unique needs of youth. RockHealth.org seeks to fill this need.
Our Role
RockHealth.org is committed to addressing these challenges by advancing innovation and supporting underrepresented leadership to drive systemic change in youth mental health. Through partnerships like the “Digital Youth Mental Health Initiative” with leading organizations working in this area, we illuminated opportunities for investors to spur technological innovation through original research, publications, and convenings.
We actively engage leaders across healthcare, technology, and investment sectors to ensure our Youth Mental Health Initiative is informed by diverse perspectives and grounded in solving real-world challenges, fostering innovations that address systemic inequities and improve health outcomes.
Insights
Insights on the digital youth mental health startup market and areas of opportunity
Insights from a panel at Aspen Ideas: Health moderated by RockHealth.org CEO Katie Drasser