Rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts are surging among U.S. teens. A recent CDC report revealed that nearly one in three girls have seriously considered suicide, with 13% having attempted it. Theories about the causes range from increased smartphone and social media use to pandemic-induced isolation. However, the immediate challenge lies in addressing the crisis amid a nationwide shortage of mental health professionals.
Jake Sussman, a co-founder of the mental health network Headway, believes his new startup, Marble, can help. Marble offers online group therapy for children in grades five through twelve, aiming to alleviate the growing mental health crisis.
After leaving Headway two years ago, Sussman became a fifth-grade English teacher at a Brooklyn charter school. This experience provided him with insight into the shortcomings of the current mental health care system for children. He observed that school counselors, despite their efforts, often struggled to provide timely help due to overwhelming caseloads and a lack of clinical training.
Sussman shared the story of Jamelia, an orphan who became depressed after her best friend left the school. Covered by Medicaid, Jamelia had to wait three months to see a therapist. This situation highlighted the need for a different approach to mental health care. Sussman realized that group therapy could be a viable solution to the shortage of mental health professionals.
“Group care has been around for a long time and has been rigorously studied. It works,” Sussman said. Studies have shown that group therapy is as effective as individual therapy. However, it is not commonly offered due to the administrative challenges involved, such as coordinating schedules and verifying insurance for multiple participants.
Sussman believes that online group therapy can overcome these logistical hurdles. He explained that specific group settings, such as those for 17-year-old girls with anxiety who identify as Hispanic and LGBTQ, are more effective but virtually impossible to organize in person. Online therapy, however, can bring together individuals with similar experiences regardless of their physical location.
Marble, founded by Sussman and another Headway co-founder, Dan Ross, aims to address these challenges. The startup, which has just emerged from stealth mode, announced it has raised $5 million in seed funding from Khosla Ventures, Town Hall Ventures, and IA Ventures, with participation from Daybreak Ventures and Lorimer Ventures.
Marble differentiates itself from competitors like Hazel, Daybreak, and Cartwheel, which partner directly with school districts. Instead, Marble collaborates with school counselors who have the authority to make referrals. The company works with insurance providers, including Medicaid, rather than charging school districts directly.
Sussman explained that Marble’s model is economically viable because Medicaid pays at least $20 per child for a group session. With 10 children in a group, Marble can generate $200 per hour, allowing them to pay therapists competitive rates while sustaining the business. Marble tested this approach with one school in New York City and plans to expand its network to hundreds of counselors across New York State in the upcoming school year.
“Counselors see the magic of not having wait lists,” Sussman said. “They realize it’s much better than what they’re currently using.” While Marble is initially launching in New York, the company has plans to expand to other states, aiming to provide effective mental health support to more students nationwide.
