One in five people in the world suffer from a mental health disorder in their lifetime, yet the percentage of people who seek treatment remains low. Suture, an Indiegogo campaign, hopes to address this problem by enabling every person the convenience to talk about their problems, while feeling secure and providing faster access to a qualified provider.
Using an AI matching algorithm and AI chatbot, Suture’s data platform helps individuals find a psychiatrist whose specialties are a match for each patient’s mental health symptoms. Users can choose their psychiatrist based on their profile, education, expertise, experience, and location from a provided list of matched psychiatrists. Patients can also order prescriptions and track their overall health using this platform.
“There isn’t anybody out there who doesn’t have a mental health condition or knows someone who does, whether it’s depression, anxiety, or how to cope with stress. With Suture, people won’t have to go through multiple endeavors to see their psychiatrist. It allows a patient to connect directly to a therapist based on their own needs,” Suture Co-Founder and CEO Dinesh Bangara said.
Co-founder and CTO Karthik Rajamony also noted the importance of providing accessible care while reducing the anxiety of physically visiting a psychiatrist’s office.
“It’s not easy for someone to talk or get help about their mental issues, especially when there is limited access to a qualified psychiatrist. We intended for Suture to give people ability to attend their therapy session at the comfort of their own home, or wherever they may be with their mobile device,” Rajamony said.
A few of the platform’s features include:
Matching Algorithm: A means of finding a psychiatrist that fits each individual
Mental Health Tracking: With an EMR designed specifically for mental health, Suture captures and tracks data so users can see their progress
AI Chatbot: Suture’s chatbot asks questions to help match a psychiatrist and a patient
Telepsychiatry: Psychiatrists can communicate via online for a private, safe, and affordable visit
E-Prescriptions: By seeing a psychiatrist online, individuals can get their prescription without having physical appointments