In recent years, more people have become comfortable seeking behavioral health care, whether through traditional in-person visits or increasingly via digital platforms. Yet, despite this broader acceptance and access, many challenges persist—particularly for minority and underserved populations. Individuals identifying as Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) often face unique obstacles in receiving effective behavioral health care. Many feel that conventional mental health providers overlook or inadequately address the cultural, social, and historical factors contributing to their mental health struggles. On top of that, longstanding cultural stigmas around mental health continue to deter many from seeking help in the first place. To bridge these gaps, BIPOC mental health apps are emerging as a solution, offering culturally competent care and resources tailored to the unique needs of these communities.
Unique Barriers Faced by BIPOC Communities in Behavioral Health
Behavioral health disparities among BIPOC populations stem from a complex mix of systemic, cultural, and economic factors. For many BIPOC individuals, experiences of racism, discrimination, and socioeconomic inequities create chronic stress that exacerbates mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance use disorders. Yet, the mental health system has not historically been designed to account for these cultural and contextual realities.
Further complicating the picture are cultural stigmas that discourage open conversations about mental health. In many BIPOC communities, seeking therapy or counseling can be perceived as a sign of weakness or personal failure. These stigmas reduce the likelihood that individuals will access care early or consistently, contributing to worsening symptoms and more severe behavioral health crises down the line.
Digital Behavioral Health’s Promise for BIPOC Communities
Recognizing these challenges, a new wave of BIPOC mental health apps and platforms has emerged to meet the specific needs of BIPOC individuals. These apps provide culturally relevant therapy, meditation, and self-care tools designed to resonate with the lived experiences of these communities. In parallel, major digital behavioral health players like Headspace Health and Talkiatry have begun curating content that addresses cultural nuances and offers more inclusive approaches.
This focus on BIPOC populations comes amid an unprecedented surge of investment in digital behavioral health, which attracted a record $5.1 billion in funding last year. While startups led by BIPOC founders have historically struggled to secure venture capital, some mental health platforms targeting BIPOC users are gaining attention from investors seeking to support more equitable and inclusive care models.
Hurdle Health: Pioneering Behavioral Health for Black Men
One standout example is Hurdle Health, a digital behavioral health platform founded in 2018 specifically for Black men. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., Hurdle launched with a mission to provide culturally responsive mental health services that acknowledge the unique stressors faced by Black men—stressors that traditional mental health care often overlooks.
In 2023, Hurdle raised $5 million in seed funding, following its participation in Morgan Stanley’s Multicultural Innovation Lab. This milestone came during a critical moment in American history, as the nation grappled with the twin traumas of the COVID-19 pandemic and a renewed reckoning with racial injustice after the killing of George Floyd.
Kevin Dedner, co-founder and CEO of Hurdle Health, shared that these events heightened awareness and dialogue about mental health, especially within Black communities. His own experience struggling to find therapists who could understand and address his concerns as a Black man was a driving force behind Hurdle’s creation.
“People of color face a deeper acknowledgment of daily experiences—microaggressions in the workplace, vicarious trauma from media coverage of violence and injustice—that profoundly impact mental health,” Dedner said.
Hurdle’s Approach and Growth
Today, Hurdle operates in six states and has formed contracts with major health insurers such as Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and UnitedHealthcare. The platform also accepts Medicare and Medicaid in some areas. Its network of licensed therapists, which doubled in size over the past year to about 75 clinicians, are specifically trained in cultural humility and responsive care. This includes understanding how racism, substance use, anger, and PTSD manifest uniquely in Black men.
Hurdle is shifting from relying exclusively on contract therapists to a hybrid workforce model with full-time employees, aiming to build deeper continuity of care. Pricing ranges from $129 for individual pay-as-you-go sessions to approximately $87 per session when bundled in monthly packages.
One remarkable metric: Hurdle’s members engage in therapy sessions two to three times longer than the national average, suggesting a higher level of sustained engagement and possibly better outcomes.
Dedner highlighted the deficiencies in traditional mental health education and services for BIPOC communities, noting that many institutions offer only minimal, tokenistic support. Hurdle counters this by using evidence-based techniques tailored to enhance therapists’ cultural competence.
Barriers and Opportunities in Scaling BIPOC Telebehavioral Health
Despite successes, Dedner emphasized that many of the challenges faced by BIPOC mental health apps are common across the industry—such as expanding licensure across states and negotiating payer contracts. However, Hurdle is optimistic about scaling nationally, expecting to be licensed in about half the country by next year.
The company is actively pursuing value-based care agreements with payers, which could incentivize better quality and outcomes. Dedner also expressed satisfaction with the responsiveness of insurers to BIPOC mental health initiatives.
Looking ahead, Hurdle is considering another funding round to accelerate growth. Dedner believes that mainstream providers—both virtual and brick-and-mortar—could learn from their approach to effectively reach BIPOC communities.
“This is a business,” he said bluntly, “but if you haven’t faced the hard truth that the mental health care system as we know it was not designed for everyone—and your approach does not take that into account—you’re failing the people you desire to serve.”
Perspectives from the Field: Concerns and Hopes for BIPOC Mental Health
Jaclyn Satchel, a Houston-based social worker who focuses on improving mental health outcomes for BIPOC individuals—particularly women—expresses cautious optimism. She appreciates the growing presence of BIPOC mental health apps but worries about the impact of outside investment on care quality.
“Investors often rely on business professionals who lack clinical experience,” Satchel said. “No one would invest in heart surgery without consulting surgeons, yet in mental health, business decisions sometimes overshadow clinical wisdom.”
She noted that venture capital firms frequently lack racial diversity among their leadership. This absence of lived experience and cultural insight can limit their ability to support ventures that truly meet BIPOC needs.
While larger telebehavioral health companies are making efforts to hire more BIPOC therapists and create culturally relevant content, Satchel stresses that these steps alone are insufficient.
“You can’t just hire Black therapists and call it a day,” she said. “Supporting BIPOC communities requires more—such as funding grassroots nonprofits that provide direct outreach, home visits, and social supports.”
Satchel remains cautiously hopeful about the future of BIPOC mental health apps, particularly if venture capital firms become more diverse and inclusive. However, she fears that the social and racial awareness sparked by events like George Floyd’s death might wane, along with the commitment to sustained investment in minority-led startups.
“I hope the partnerships with hospitals, insurers, and community organizations grow,” she said. “But Americans often get comfortable and forget. We need long-term commitment.”
The Road Ahead for BIPOC Telebehavioral Health
Digital behavioral health platforms like Hurdle Health are forging new pathways toward equitable care by addressing cultural gaps and creating safe spaces for BIPOC individuals. They offer scalable, accessible solutions at a time when demand for mental health services far outpaces supply—especially in minority communities.
Yet, true progress will require more than technology and funding. It demands:
- Continued emphasis on culturally competent care that acknowledges systemic racism, historical trauma, and everyday microaggressions.
- Diverse leadership and clinician representation to guide product development, funding decisions, and care models.
- Partnerships with community organizations to provide wraparound supports beyond virtual therapy sessions.
- Sustained investment that values quality and community impact over rapid growth or short-term returns.
Only by embracing these principles can the mental health care system move toward a future where all individuals—regardless of race or background—receive the care they need and deserve.
