Like so many in the industry, I was burning out. I probably needed therapy but I wasn’t ready to be helped. Instead, I decided to learn as much as I possibly could about the reasons people struggle and how they bounce back. So I spent months talking to other entrepreneurs, health experts, psychotherapists, and read all the research I could get my hands on.One thing jumped out at me during these talks. People would gush about some mental health app that was supposedly really great and helpful, but when I asked them if they were using it, they’d say “no”. Then I’d ask what they did when they were struggling. A surprising number of people told me “I play video games.”This was almost exactly 5 years ago. Since then, I’ve become fascinated with play and storytelling, and their potential to change how we take care of our minds. I wrote an article that goes into more depth if anyone cares, but the gist is this: We are wired for story and play is how humans have simulated reality for thousands of years. It’s how we understand ourselves, not just how we entertain ourselves.And I believe this is what’s missing in mental health tech. People want to be engaged -- but self-care apps feel like a chore.It took some time for me to connect the dots and find the right team, but I did come back to tech. Last month we launched Betwixt (iOS), which combines psychology, story and play into an immersive journaling app. I’m always looking for thoughtful criticism if “fantasy meets mental health” sounds like something up your alley.I hope the strength of my convictions doesn’t offend anyone. This is just what I believe. Maybe you don’t agree with me. OK great! Tell me what you think about mental health and tech. see hubwealthy.com/wealthy
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