Upstate start-up launches new app built to increase mental health

Sharpen, a start-up company, has developed an app that is designed to increase mental health. Sharpen is a mental health technology company delivering research-focused content through a variety of avenues from mobile applications and analytic platforms to on-site training programs to books and seminars.

Sharpen is partnering with Upstate Warrior Solution to provide a custom educational resource to increase mental health among the veteran community. The program will be a custom app called Sharpen Warrior.

“We are thrilled to finally be able to introduce our company to the Upstate community, at the same time we are announcing a custom program we are creating in partnership with Upstate Warrior Solution,” said Robyn Hussa Farrell, CEO and Founder of Sharpen. “Our mission at Sharpen is to significantly lower the prevalence of mental illnesses by bringing hip, fun, research-infused products to specific audiences to get individuals learning, managing and preventing mental illness.”

“The Sharpen app will help to improve and increase mental health,” adds Farrell.

According to Farrell, “the number of active duty military being treated for mental health has increased by 61% since 2005, and the Department of Defense spends $1B annually on mental health for active duty personnel. In addition, in 2016, the VA allocated $7.5B to mental health, alone. The number of veterans being treated for mental health disorders has increased by 63% since 2005, and the VA has increased mental health treatment visits by 71% over the last decade.  In comparison to these increases in treatment, 26 military veterans succeed in suicide every day. The Sharpen Warrior app will be designed to increase the mental health among our veteran community.”

Sharpen is located at The GreenHouse Business Incubator at The George. The GreenHouse, located on the third floor of the George Dean Johnson, Jr. College of Business and Economics at The George, is a home where startups are nurtured in their fragile early stages in order for them to grow and thrive. The GreenHouse leadership worked with Sharpen over the past two years to match resources that strengthened and helped to launch Sharpen.

About Sharpen

Sharpen, a mental health technology company, integrates the work of top researchers in multiple disciplines of mental health with proprietary media, to produce documentary-style educational tools.  This educational content has been shown to discreetly connect users to effective, evidence-based content and support services. Based on our research over the last decade, the company has developed game-changing mobile applications and analytics, providing research-driven content that incorporates film, music, empathic stories, and medical research, which improves engagement and helps individuals find hope and healing. For more information, visit www.sharpenminds.com.