A Finnish mental health start-up company says it hopes that an Internet-based service it has established that enables people seeking help with mental health issues to find the ‘right’ psychologist, psychiatrist, or psychotherapist, will become Europe’s leading mental health service portal.
‘BooknHeal’ is provided by AtCare, a social start-up founded in 2012 with the backing of the Finnish Central Association for Mental Health by Henri Valvanne, whose own mental illness and difficulties getting help convinced him of the need. The portal includes a database of some 150 mental health professionals throughout Finland, and information on their particular expertise. Once an individual has identified, say, a psychotherapist they feel they will be able to work well with, they can book an appointment direct. An ‘intelligent search engine’ is being further refined to ensure the closest ‘match’ between patient and professional – for example in terms of expectations, personality traits, and treatment preferences. It is also hoped to add a videotherapy facility.
Henri Valvanne explained: “In 2009 I became seriously ill with Bickerstaff’s brain stem encephalitis. Stuck in a coma-like state, unable to move, speak, or see, the only thing that was working was my mind, which gave me the opportunity to ponder on what was important in life. I believe the serious physical illness I suffered is linked with my own mental health issues, which include social phobia, and for which I initially couldn’t get good professional help. As I recovered, I decided I would find a way to help people, and AtCare, and subsequently BooknHeal, were then established.”