Dr. Chris Mosunic, chief clinical officer at Calm, has a lot to say about the state of mental health and the abilities of healthcare technology – especially with the mental health crisis in the United States.
There is an engagement and discovery problem in healthcare and employee benefits, he said. Digital care must play a critical role in mental health deserts, he added. Payer partnerships with mental health apps can pay off. And telehealth platforms can expand mental healthcare access to underserved communities.
Mosunic is a clinical psychologist and registered dietitian, in addition to chief clinical officer at Calm, playing a key role in shaping the company’s evidence-based programs and spearheading clinical research. His experience includes executive healthcare leader roles at Yale New Haven Health, Johnson and Johnson, Rivermend Health, Advanced Recovery Systems and Vida Health.
Calm – a consumer mental health company with an app designed to help people sleep more, stress less and live mindfully – also offers a growing library of digital, evidence-based mental health programs. The Calm app has more than 175 million downloads and supports more than 3,500 organizations across seven languages and 190 countries, the company reported.
The company also offers Calm Health, an evidence-based mental health app for payers, providers and employers, designed to serve as a front door to finding the right mental health support. Through an in-app mental health screening using GAD-7 and PHQ-9 question sets, Calm Health provides personalized support recommendations ranging from self-guided digital programs developed by psychologists to therapy or coaching.
We spoke with Mosunic recently and asked him to offer more detail on the four key areas he said are so important to mental healthcare today.
Q. You say there is an engagement and discovery problem in healthcare and employee benefits. Please describe the problem and how telepsychiatry and digital tools can help solve it.
A. Benefits and tools provided through insurers and employers often can go underutilized, creating a disconnect between available resources and people who need support. This is a problem, as poor engagement means we can’t measure health outcomes or expect positive results.
However, when thoughtfully designed with the user experience in mind, digital tools can transform intimidating, inaccessible support into approachable interventions that meet patients where they are, especially when these tools come from brands already recognized and trusted by consumers.
Most people are overwhelmed with too many tools or resources to choose from, lacking the understanding of the value or benefits each can bring them. This confusion can result in a lack of engagement. For employers and health plans, success hinges on regular education about available resources, investing in tools that are engaging and built with end users in mind, and ensuring these tools integrate seamlessly with existing ecosystems and consumer habits.
Q. Please talk about the mental health desert issue in the U.S. today, and how and where telepsychiatry and digital tools come into play.
A. 122 million Americans live in areas with mental health professional shortages, while 46% of therapists report inability to meet demand. This access crisis requires scalable technology.
Digital tools serve as effective on-demand entry points offering evidence-based resources without the barriers of traditional care, such as lack of nearby providers, transportation challenges, lengthy wait times and scheduling constraints.
Because psychiatrists are in especially short supply, clinical digital tools can help shift the burden off them by performing some of the supporting tasks that don’t need a specialist, such as collecting symptoms or providing basic clinical guidance – allowing the psychiatrist to focus on their specialty versus administration.
Telehealth or digital tools also allow patients to seek professional care in comfortable formats – whether through video, phone or messaging, making mental healthcare more accessible than ever before. However, significant work remains.
Q. How are payers recognizing the value of digital mental health in reducing costs and improving access?
A. Payers increasingly recognize the intrinsic connection between mental and physical health. When mental health conditions coincide with chronic health conditions, the total cost of care can increase 2-8 times for both health systems and patients.
Many individuals with chronic conditions haven’t been screened for mental health challenges, leaving conditions untreated. For example, depression commonly accompanies diabetes, anxiety is prevalent with IBS, and both conditions frequently affect cancer patients.
Evidence-based digital mental health tools can serve as upstream interventions that deliver personalized, on-demand support tailored to these specific physical conditions. Smart partnerships focus on population needs rather than just distributing apps with generalized support or content. This targeted approach can improve access to mental healthcare while delivering better overall health outcomes and lowered costs.
Q. How can app-based telepsychiatry systems help low-income and rural populations? Are they just a first step in intervention?
A. Digital mental health tools are not merely preliminary interventions; these platforms can offer secure, confidential care that patients can trust.
For low-income and rural populations, app-based technology can address critical barriers including provider shortages, wait times, travel constraints and stigma. The best platforms consider additional accessibility factors like language barriers, disabilities and specific population mental health needs, creating more equitable care pathways.
While mental healthcare has become more accessible for many, new disparities are now apparent. There is a significant divide between older adults and younger populations when it comes to the adoption of digital mental health tools. As we continue to get digital platforms and telehealth in the hands of more people, we can’t forget about our aging population as well.
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