Evolving for Better Mental Health

Evolve co-founders Rohan Arora and Anshul Kamath (right). (Photograph courtesy Evolve)

Anshul Kamath was diagnosed with a chronic autoimmune disease in 2016. He had just quit his job in London and returned to India. In the process of learning to live with his diagnosis, Kamath realized that mental health issues also require routine care, just like physical health. A year later, he started networking with psychologists, life coaches and wellness professionals to facilitate workshops on emotional well-being. This is how Evolve—a digital platform to help users find mental health support—was born.

Initially launched as a mental health app for everyone, Kamath and co-founder Rohan Arora pivoted to focus on the LGBTQIA+ community in 2021 after noticing signs of traction. At their Mumbai-based start-up, Kamath and Arora lead a diverse team representing various gender identities and sexual orientations. This inclusive environment has helped Evolve to become a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community, offering tailored support and resources.

Mental health support

Research shows that members of the LGBTQIA+ community are significantly more likely to face serious mental health challenges compared to others. “Individuals who are part of the community experience minority stress,” explains Kamath. This term refers to elevated levels of stress that members of stigmatized minority groups often face. Sources of minority stress can include rejection, homophobia and bullying.

The platform has democratized content, making it both created by and tailored for the community of users. (Photograph courtesy Evolve)

“The stigma present in many communities surrounding mental health often prevents individuals from seeking help, exacerbating their conditions. USAID has found that integrating mental health services into existing health programs can normalize mental health care, reduce stigma, and encourage more people to seek the help they need,” says Moni Sagar, family health division chief, USAID/India.

Evolve, with USAID’s support, offers a space that addresses the mental health impact of these minority stress factors. “Acknowledging the scarcity of queer affirmative therapists and digital mental health platforms, Evolve has pioneered a 3C approach—content, community and coaching—to create better mental health outcomes for the LGBTQIA+ community,” explains Kamath.

“Through partnerships across the country, we are strengthening early screening and diagnosis, improving treatment adherence, and reducing patient drop-out rates,” adds Sagar.

The 3C approach

The platform, Kamath says, has democratized content, making it both created by and tailored for the community of users. Over 100 guided introspective therapies have been created with experts, queer therapists and Evolve users. The app includes queer-specific features that are integrated into its UI/UX (user interface/user experience), helping users be their authentic selves. “This includes being able to choose your own pride flags and affirmation backgrounds that can be personalized to celebrate your unique identity,” says Kamath.

“Evolve app users benefit from an environment free from judgment or stigma, where they can explore challenges and triumphs at their own pace. In-app communities focus on lived and shared experiences to foster a sense of belonging and reduce feelings of isolation and invisibility,” adds Sagar.

To enhance authenticity, Evolve collaborates with “super users,” customers who use the product regularly and spend more on it than others through in-app purchases. “One of Evolve’s super users was Carmen Neely, the co-founder and CEO of Harlem Pride—one of the largest nongovernmental organizations for and by the LGBTQIA+ community in the United States,” says Kamath.

The last “C” is coaching, where users can connect with mentors, life coaches and therapists to discuss long-term goals and challenges and find personalized solutions that work for them. This can include one-on-one or group sessions with trained providers for better mental health outcomes.

The road ahead

So far, the Evolve app has been downloaded over 1 million times and boasts of a user rating of 4.7 on Google Play. Evolve was featured in 2023 by Google as one of the top four apps globally for mental health. As part of its commitment to driving societal change and promoting inclusivity, Evolve plans to partner with researchers and organizations focused on advancing LGBTQIA+ rights. “We also have plans to make the app more accessible and localized by translating the app into multiple Indian languages,” says Kamath, “so users across India can find support and comfort, especially where accessibility is a challenge.”

Natasa Milas is a freelance writer based in New York City.

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