Wysa, mental health chatbot receives $1.3 million funding

Mental health chatbot Wysa on Saturday announced that it has raised a total of $1.3 million in seed funding from early stage investment firms Kae Capital and Angel Investors.

[caption id=“attachment_3872195” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Wysa, a mental health chatbot, received funding. Wikimedia. [/caption] Created as an Artificial Intelligence (AI) coach for behavioural and mental health, Wysa offers evidence-based techniques through empathetic, anonymous conversations, the company said in a statement. “Our technology passively detects behavioural health issues from smartphone sensors and engages them through chat,” said Ramakant Vempati, co-founder. Wysa supports a variety of behavioural health use cases, including anxiety, smoking cessation, diabetes and disability support, to reduce healthcare costs and improve adherence. As per earlier reports British researchers had designed a smartphone app that helped people manage their problems, anxiety and depression, based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). The ‘Catch It’ app uses psychological approaches to mental health and well-being through CBT, a therapy that can help individuals manage problems by changing the way one thinks and behaves. It helps the user identify thoughts and thinking styles associated with a shift in mood or a particular emotion and takes the users through a process. The app helps users better understand their moods through use of an ongoing diary. significant reductions in negative mood intensity and increases in positive mood intensity among participants. A significant reductions in negative mood intensity and increases in positive mood intensity among participants.