By
Zoe Stabler DipFAUpdated
Approximately 30% of the UK population is suffering from some kind of mental health condition – this includes anxiety, panic attacks, bipolar disorder, body dysmorphia, borderline personality disorder, depression, dissociation, drug abuse, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), paranoia, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, trauma and mania, among others.
As the world is becoming more aware of mental health issues, companies are popping up designed to help treat them. These could be creating new medicines or offering better access to talking therapies.
Mental health stocks are the shares in companies that are helping to treat mental health problems — this is a pretty broad category, as it could include companies that are creating medicines, ones that are offering new approaches to talking therapies, and ones with guides to managing your mental wellbeing.
We have a brilliant healthcare system here in the UK, but waiting lists are incredibly long for all types of treatment, not just mental health. This has led to companies like the ones below creating alternative treatments. Here are some examples of which companies you can invest in.
Personal Group is aimed at employers to provide employee benefits and wellbeing products. It has a couple of sister companies, Innecto and Let’s Connect which offer specialist consultancy and employee benefits.
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There are some fantastic global mental health companies. Some countries worldwide don’t have free healthcare like we do in the UK, so some of these companies tend to replace support from central healthcare systems, rather than supplement it.
Compass Pathways is developing psilocybin, which is a naturally occurring psychedelic prodrug compound, to treat depression. In 2018, the company received therapy designation from the FDA.
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Mind Medicine, or MindMed, is a psychedelic medicine company that’s developing medicines to treat addiction and mental illness. It’s a relatively new company, having been only founded in 2019.
The company is developing a treatment for opioid withdrawal and use disorder. It’s using 18-MC, a non-hallucinogenic molecule based on Ibogaine. MindMed is listed on the Canadian NEO Exchange and NASDAQ.
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Mental health problems aren’t new, but they’re certainly starting to get more awareness, with several celebrities, including Ryan Reynolds, Beyoncé, and even Prince Harry coming out to talk about their own mental health. An increase in awareness helps to convince people to get help for their problems, which drives more demand for services.
The main risk with these stocks is that other companies will reach the end goal first — whether this is creating a new drug or a new method of treatment. With some stocks, specifically with those that offer guides or a programme to keep track of mental health, the risks are that the user base loses interest or that it becomes ineffective.
All investing should be regarded as longer term. The value of your investments can go up and down, and you may get back less than you invest. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. If you’re not sure which investments are right for you, please seek out a financial adviser. Capital at risk.
The coronavirus pandemic heightened people’s mental health problems worldwide, and for some, they even experienced them for the first time. This has spurred companies to launch new ways for people to get help as well as research and develop new medicines to treat disorders. At the moment, demand for mental health services is at an all-time high, so there’s no wonder why investors are looking into mental health stocks to invest in.
58% of people we surveyed said they already invest in healthcare stocks or would consider investing in healthcare stocks.
| Response | |
|---|---|
| I would consider it | 47.6% |
| I wouldn't consider it | 22.51% |
| Not sure | 19.93% |
| I already invest in this | 9.96% |
Zoe was a senior writer at Finder specialising in investment and banking, and during this time, she joined the Women in FinTech Powerlist 2022. She is currently a senior money writer at Be Clever With Your Cash. Zoe has a BA in English literature and a Diploma for Financial Advisers. She has several years of experience in writing about all things personal finance. Zoe has a particular love for spreadsheets, having also worked as a management accountant. In her spare time, you’ll find Zoe skating at her local ice rink. See full bio
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