Arise, the digital healthcare company enabling holistic, person-centered care for eating disorders and mental health, launches in its inaugural state of Texas.
The new healthcare offering comes at a time when rates of eating disorders are soaring, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and continuing to grow across groups of diverse age, race, ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual orientation. It is estimated that nearly 10 percent of Texans, roughly 2.5 million people, will experience an eating disorder in their lifetime, according to a Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health report, with statistics showing that the majority of these people will not get the care they deserve.
“Through recovery from my own eating disorder, it became so clear that there were so many privileges I had to be able to access treatment — and also how many barriers I still faced to continuing care and healing long-term. Those barriers are even higher for many people who don’t hold those privileges,” said Arise Chief Producer Officer, co-founder, and Houston native Joan Zhang. “With Arise, we aim to place care for one of the deadliest mental illnesses within more people’s reach. Our model is built on a foundation of culturally-sensitive care, validating each person’s lived experiences and supporting them in long-term healing. To launch Arise today in my home state of Texas comes with reflection in acknowledging where I’ve come from and, more significantly, driven by how we can support others in their healing.”
Arise aims to bring more people accessible, affordable, and inclusive care for eating disorders and mental health conditions that come alongside it — including anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD, and PTSD. With a person-centered, trauma-informed approach to care, Arise addresses the complex medical and behavioral health needs, sociocultural factors, and personal experiences that contribute to eating disorders.
The company’s model deeply integrates community-based care with person-centered clinical services — pairing members with a Care Advocate to build trust and coaching towards long-term healing, peer group support, and clinical care (therapy, nutrition, psychiatric, and medical care) based on their individual needs. Delivered virtually through an app, video sessions, and on-the-go chat with care team members, Arise is meeting people where they are and expanding access where it’s long been needed.