TCS Working On Mental Health App For B2C Users

Indian IT giant Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is reportedly building an app to help users with mental health issues. Incidentally, this is the first time TCS is building an app for users and not corporates.

The IT and software giant is in talks with major hospitals, insurance companies and large enterprises to roll out the app, the Hindu Business Line reported.

The app would take a gamified approach to reduce anxiety and stress among users. Currently, the mental health app is undergoing clinical validation at a top Indian hospital, the publication said, adding that TCS is also testing the app’s usability by conducting a beta test internally with around 900 employees.

After the mental health app receives clinical validation, TCS plans to reach out to hospitals, insurance players and partner companies for proof of concept studies and the app’s monetisation plans.

It is prudent to mention that TCS published a whitepaper earlier describing an ecosystem to tackle mental health problems. The IT major described a platform approach, which included health players building a DTx platform for mental wellness.

The whitepaper was focused on helping users to handle mental health issues such as burnout, stress, anxiety, depression and substance abuse.

Rajiv Thanawala, innovation evangelist and senior consultant at TCS, was cited as saying that the app aims to use a gamified approach, which would allow existing clinical evidence to be digitised and help users reduce anxiety and stress. These games are designed to be interventions for the users to help them manage their mental well-being.

If the digital interventions fail, the app recommends users seek clinical help. According to the senior consultant, the app has received interest from multiple partners, particularly from medical sciences. The app could also allow doctors to monitor patients outside of the hospital.

“There are over 300 apps for mental health in the market; however, it is very rare for consumers to continue using them for a long time. Our gamified approach will drive usability and compliance for the app,” Thanawala was cited as saying.

TCS joins a growing list of Indian startups working in the field of mental health and well-being. The likes of Wysa, Trijog, Gratitude, Felicity, Tatsam Wellness and others have developed mental health solutions for end users and B2B players as well.

In particular, the segment has seen a rise in corporate customers looking to improve their employees’ mental health by opting for corporate solutions. This means that companies are now similarly offering mental health solutions as it offers health insurance to their employees.

According to a World Health Organisation report, the burden of mental health problems in India is 2,443 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per 10,000 population. Further, the economic loss due to mental health conditions between 2012 and 2030 was estimated to be around $1.03 Tn.

DALYs, according to the WHO, is the number of life years lost due to premature mortality (YLLs) and years of life lost due to time lived in states of less than full health.

Other estimates put the number of people suffering from mental health issues close to 200 Mn, or about 14% of the country’s population.