Our Family Coalition (ourfamily.org) is a social-impact community dedicated to advancing equity for the full and expanding spectrum of LGBTQ families and children through support, education, and advocacy. Their mission is collective liberation and well-being for all families.
To better understand the needs of their community, Our Family Coalition conducted a needs assessment of its members. Affirming therapy was the number one gap identified. Taking that information very seriously in support of their mission of well-being, a partnership with Joon was forged to address mental health needs.
Joon (www.joon.com) is defining and delivering a new model for mental health care specifically for the needs of 13-24-year-olds. A model that integrates the benefits of one-on-one live therapy sessions with convenient self-directed skills practice in a mobile app. Our approach is evidence-based, skills-focused, and personalized for each client.
“In the past year, nearly 1 in 4 LGBTQ youth attempted suicide and 60% of LGBTQ youth who wanted mental health care were not able to get it. Today more than ever, LGBTQ+ youth need affirming, high-quality mental health care,” said Emily Pesce, Joon’s CEO. “Partnering with Our Family Coalition, with their national reach, we can ensure more LGBTQ+ youth get the mental health support they need.”
“In then past year 41% of LGBTQ young people seriously considered suicide and 56% who wanted mental health care were not able to get it. This is unacceptable, we must do better. All people, including LGBTQ youth, deserve safe access to high-quality mental health care if needed,” said Emily Pesce, Joon’s CEO, who herself is trans. “Our Family Coalition’s inspiring mission and national reach help all of us at Joon ensure our incredible Care platform is available to those who may not have had such access previously. We’re grateful for this partnership and can’t wait to get started.”
Joon’s team of licensed therapists treats anxiety, depression, stress, and related conditions. Joon care is powered by a mobile app and therapist platform that is purpose-built to support and empower adolescents. Joon clients create a personalized treatment plan with their dedicated, culturally competent therapist. They also get tools to thrive between sessions and build their mental health skills anytime through an app right in their pocket. Joon is in-network with many insurance providers and provides a discount to Our Family Coalition members who self-pay. Our Family Coalition will pay for therapy for those of their members who need it.
“Partnering with Joon will enable more of our young people to get the mental health care they need for our families to thrive,” said Mimi Demissew, Executive Director. “We seek to remove or reduce barriers to accessing mental health services for LGBTQ youth while having a holistic approach to how we support our LGBTQ families which involves dynamic systemic change.”
Joon has proven success working with adolescents on a variety of common issues from relationships and academic stress to acute depression and anxiety including self-harm and suicidality. Recovery rates for Joon clients keep improving each year. In our latest data, 78% of clients recovered from clinical anxiety and 71% from clinical depression, far surpassing comparable in-person therapy.
Our Family Coalition members can request a Joon therapist match to get discounted mental health support.
