Sonar Mental Health (“Sonar”), an AI-powered platform dedicated to improving the mental well-being of young people, has raised $2.4 million in pre-seed funding. Led by Nina Capital, with participation from GSR Ventures, J4 Ventures, and support from the Stanford University Social Impact Founder Fellowship, this funding will allow Sonar to scale its services, expand across school districts nationwide, and invest in further research and app development to combat the adolescent mental health crisis.
Drew Barvir, CEO and co-founder of Sonar, emphasized the personal mission behind the company: “Sonar isn’t merely a project or a job for me; I see it as my personal mission to prevent another family or friend from experiencing the tragedy of losing a loved one to mental illness.” With a team of experienced professionals, including psychiatrists, counselors, researchers, and AI experts, Sonar aims to provide adolescents with the support they need to improve lifelong mental well-being while helping under-resourced schools offer proactive mental health solutions.
The Teen Mental Health Crisis
The statistics surrounding teen mental health are alarming. Nearly 50% of U.S. adolescents suffer from mental health disorders, with 20% experiencing major depressive episodes each year. Despite the clear need, many school districts are under-resourced, with 17% of high schools not having a single school counselor, and most states exceeding the recommended student-to-counselor ratio. Additionally, existing solutions, such as virtual counseling platforms, fail to scale and provide students with the on-demand care they need.
The Sonar Way: AI-Powered, Preventative Mental Health
Sonar’s platform aims to address these challenges by offering a scalable, effective solution for preventing mental health issues before they escalate. The AI-powered Wellbeing Companion, Sonny, interacts with students via text messages to provide support when needed. Through personalized conversations, Sonny adapts to each student’s unique needs, offering tailored, judgment-free responses to help students cope with everything from academic stress to personal loss.
Sonar’s technology uses techniques like motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy, guided by clinical input from a board of psychiatrists. The platform’s approach is comprehensive, including human involvement to ensure high-risk situations are addressed and students receive appropriate care. When necessary, students are referred to professional therapy services.
Proven Impact
Sonar has already partnered with nine school districts across five states, supporting over 4,500 students. The platform has been shown to significantly decrease chronic absenteeism and improve student well-being. More than 75% of students using Sonny have reported improved well-being, with self-reported survey results showing a 20%+ improvement. Additionally, 98% of districts that have adopted Sonar expect to continue increasing their mental health spending, highlighting the program’s effectiveness.
With the support of its recent funding, Sonar is poised to expand its reach, ensuring that more students across the country have access to the mental health resources they need to thrive.
