O7 Therapy – a digital platform and smartphone app that specializes in online therapy, corporate wellness programmes, and psychoeducational resources for “Arabic-speaking users” – has raised a total of $2.1 million in a funding round led by Hikma Ventures. The venture capital firm is part of the London-headquartered Hikma Pharmaceuticals. Founded in 2019 by Bacheet, Ashraf Adel, and Nader Iskander, O7 Therapy offers a network of psychiatrists and psychotherapists – many of whom are bilingual – to support clients in both Arabic and English.
Compared to other regions, the MENA is underserved in terms of mental health services and support. For example, conditions such as depression and anxiety are a leading cause of disability in the Arab world, which includes 5·54% of the global population. However, there remains a lack of general awareness and education of mental health disorders, as well as a lack of support via local health authorities, limited mental health services for underprivileged communities, and the social stigma associated with it. COVID-19 has both accelerated the adoption of digital health services and tragically made them more necessary than ever, with increases in a range of mental health issues, including loneliness, stress, anxiety, burnout, and beyond. O7 Therapy’s platform is well-positioned to address these problems.