Eric Frieman’s entry into the world of behavioral health care, mental health, and substance use treatment was deeply personal, sparked by the devastating loss of those closest to him. His brother, an Army infantry officer, was deployed twice into combat zones, but tragically, he lost more soldiers to suicide and behavioral health-related challenges than he did to combat. Frieman himself experienced the heartbreaking death of his best friend due to a drug overdose, further fueling his commitment to mental health and substance use treatment.
In both instances, Frieman was struck by the harsh reality that those suffering from mental health and substance use disorders often couldn’t access the help they desperately needed—whether because treatment was too expensive or because healthcare providers could only treat one issue at a time, ignoring the dangerous overlap between substance use and mental health challenges.
Founding Forge Health to Address the Gap
This realization sparked a vow within Frieman: he would do something about it. His vision was clear—he wanted to build a system of care that could treat both substance use and mental health issues simultaneously and make it accessible to those who needed it most. That vision led to the founding of Forge Health in 2016, an outpatient behavioral health provider designed to bridge the gaps in care that Frieman had witnessed throughout his life.
Putting Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment at the Center
The core of Forge Health’s mission is offering integrated treatment. This approach goes beyond simply treating mental health or substance use separately. Forge Health offers a hybrid model where clinicians are specifically trained in both mental health and substance use treatment, ensuring that each patient receives comprehensive care that addresses both areas at once.
A Different Kind of Behavioral Health Provider
Forge Health stands out in the behavioral health industry by emphasizing mental health and substance use treatment as a core value of their patient care approach. This dual focus is a reflection of the company’s deep understanding of the interconnectedness between mental health and substance use disorders.
At Forge Health, patients receive care that spans both substance use and mental health, ensuring that the complexities of co-occurring disorders are addressed simultaneously. This comprehensive approach helps individuals on their path to recovery by providing the resources they need to heal from both issues at the same time.
Building a Multidisciplinary Care Model
Frieman is passionate about breaking down barriers to care and has worked tirelessly to ensure that Forge Health provides accessible and effective treatment. Forge Health’s clinicians collaborate closely to ensure that each patient receives the best possible care for their specific needs, including combining therapy, medication management, and supportive services to treat mental health and substance use disorders together.
Expansion, Hybrid Care, and Investor Confidence
With 19 clinics across five Northeastern states and a growing number of clients using virtual services, Forge Health has shown how accessible and scalable substance use and mental health treatment can be. The company now offers a hybrid of in-person and virtual care, with approximately 60% of clients utilizing telehealth options.
Forge Health’s model has earned respect among insurers and health systems alike, including organizations like Carelon Behavioral Health and Independence Blue Cross Blue Shield. These strong relationships have fueled consistent referrals and investor confidence. With $21.5 million raised over two rounds and a focus on sustainable growth, Forge Health continues to scale its proven model.
A Future Built on Integrated Care
As the need for accessible, comprehensive mental health and substance use treatment grows, Forge Health continues to expand its services, working toward a future where integrated care is the norm, not the exception.
Through its innovative model, Forge Health is changing the way people approach mental health and substance use treatment. By focusing on both mental health and substance use disorders at the same time, Forge Health is providing the care and support that individuals need to heal and thrive.
