Partnership delivers 24/7 mental health and substance use support to rural Washington residents
MENLO PARK, Calif., Aug. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — United We Care, a global deep-tech mental health company, and Mason County, Washington, have successfully launched a groundbreaking digital mental health pilot in one of the nation’s mental health care deserts. Through this program, residents now have 24/7 confidential access to mental health and substance use support. Early results are promising: 50% of users booked a session with a licensed mental health provider, 72.5% completed clinically validated mental health assessments, and 93% engaged with United We Care’s AI-powered mental health companion.
United We Care provides Mason County residents with continuous access to Stella, the world’s first AI wellness agent capable of thinking, reasoning, and connecting. The program also offers self-guided therapy content, substance use risk screening, certified mental health coaching, peer listener support, and referrals to in-network licensed therapists. Developed in collaboration with local clinics, the initiative ensures cultural relevance and accessibility for Mason County’s rural communities.
“More than 150 million Americans live in areas without enough mental health professionals, and Washington is especially seeing rising rates of depression, suicide, and substance use,” said Ritu Mehrotra, founder and CEO of United We Care. “This pilot proves that with the right mix of technology, human support, and community collaboration, we can deliver accessible, stigma-free care in the places that need it most right now—not years from now.”
The initiative addresses the severe shortage of mental health professionals in Mason County, where geographic isolation, economic hardship, and stigma have long been barriers to care. By offering remote, confidential, and insurance-covered support, the program removes many of the obstacles that prevent residents from seeking help, especially those struggling with substance use.
“This initiative is a step toward restoring hope and connection in our community,” said David Windom, director of Mason County Public Health and Human Services. “By bringing accessible, 24/7 mental health support to our residents, we are giving people the tools to get through difficult times and reminding them they are not alone.”
In the first two months of the program, 42% of users returned to the app, and 62% of those who used Stella came back for multiple sessions. More than 2,000 messages were exchanged with the AI companion during that time, with conversations averaging 11 minutes. Stella also identified several high-risk mental health situations in real time and activated emergency protocols—including during late-night hours—demonstrating its ability to deliver timely alerts and potentially save lives.
United We Care is preparing to expand the pilot across Washington state and is evaluating opportunities for federal or multistate rollout based on strong early engagement. Guided by real-time feedback from Mason County users, the Stella platform will continue to evolve with enhanced support for diverse mental health challenges.
About United We Care
United We Care is a deep-tech mental health company behind Stella, the world’s first AI wellness agent built to think, reason, and connect. Available 24/7 in more than 120 languages, Stella is part of a broader AI-powered mental health ecosystem that delivers accurate and smart triaging, self-help, clinical management, and community support powered by the world’s most comprehensive Clinical Knowledge Graph. United We Care has positively impacted more than 5 million lives across five countries and holds 12 patents, 18 research papers, and 25 world records. Learn more at www.unitedwecare.com.
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SOURCE United We Care
