Calm Health Expands Globally to Close Mental Health Care Gaps and Boost Access

Calm Health’s global expansion is breaking down barriers to make mental wellness accessible to all. PHOTO: Andrea Piacquadio

The need for mental health support is urgent. Globally, over 70% of people experiencing mental health challenges don’t seek help, often due to stigma, uncertainty, or limited access, according to Erin Stolze, senior manager of communications at Calm, a leading mental health company. In response, Calm Health, an evidence-based app delivering mental health support through employers, health plans or providers, is now expanding internationally, beginning with the UK and Canada.

This move marks a significant milestone in Calm’s ongoing mission to close care gaps, increase engagement with employer and health benefits, and broaden access to effective mental health resources worldwide. Building on its strong success in the U.S., Calm Health plans to roll out to additional international markets later this year.

A Natural Next Step

The global rollout, beginning in UK and Canada, is driven by growing consumer demand for accessible, scalable, and engaging mental health support. The expansion offers multinational employers a single, unified solution extending Calm’s impact across borders while streamlining support for global workforces.

David Ko, CEO of Calm, says in the U.S., Calm Health is already driving above-average engagement across employer and health plan populations, a strong signal that we’re meeting a critical need as demand rises in the U.S. and worldwide. “Most employers see less than 5% engagement with their employee assistance programs and without engagement, we can’t expect meaningful outcomes. Expanding globally is a natural next step to make mental health support more accessible,” he says.

At La Playa Media and Marketing, we’re committed to partnering with you to spread impactful mental health solutions worldwide. PHOTO: Roberto Hund

Personalized and Evidence-Based

At the heart of Calm Health’s effectiveness is its personalized approach. The user experience begins with an in-app mental health screening that considers mental health symptoms, physical health conditions, and life experiences. Based on these results, users receive tailored recommendations—ranging from mindfulness and sleep content to psychologist-developed digital programs and connections to existing employer or health plan benefits. This integration within employer and health plan ecosystems increases visibility and engagement across the full spectrum of care, with the aim to break down barriers that have traditionally kept many from accessing help.

Stolze, says in the U.S., Calm Health has shown measurable impact, with 77% of users completing a mental health screening, a key driver of early intervention. “Members are also twice as likely to engage in outpatient mental health care when needed compared to baseline groups. The platform has also helped increase engagement with underutilized benefits and reached underserved populations, closing critical gaps in access and care, successes that set the foundation for global expansion,” she says.

Meeting Local Needs with Compliance

Mental health demand is rising in Canada, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information. Yet many Canadians face significant barriers to accessing care, most commonly due to cost and limited availability of services.

Alex Will, president at Calm, says the demand for accessible mental health resources in the UK has grown significantly, which he’s seen through the strong adoption of Calm by individuals and employers. “With Calm Health, we can now deepen our support by bringing evidence-based mental health resources to the market, designed to complement both the public health system and existing employer benefits. This expansion also allows us to better support companies with global teams by offering a single tool their people can rely on, wherever they are,” he says.

Calm Health is currently available to more than 17 million people in the U.S. through employers, health plans, and providers, and is built to meet the needs of diverse populations. It is designed with local regulatory requirements in mind, Calm Health complies with HIPAA and HITRUST standards in the U.S. and aligns with applicable data privacy laws in the UK and Canada.

A Step Toward Global Mental Wellness

Calm Health’s international expansion highlights the company’s commitment to transforming mental health support on a global scale. By providing personalized, evidence-based, and easily accessible digital resources, Calm is helping to create a future where mental wellness is available to all, breaking down barriers and making support more inclusive and effective worldwide.

At La Playa Media and Marketing, we share this vision. We’re dedicated to expanding access to impactful mental health and wellness solutions globally—and we invite you to partner with us to amplify your message and reach the audiences who need it most. Together, we can make mental wellness more accessible, inclusive, and transformative for everyone.