SA StartUp The Pocketcouch Seeks To Make Mental Healthcare Accessible
SA StartUp The Pocketcouch Seeks To Make Mental Healthcare Accessible. The pocketcouch was born out of the need to address the difficulty millions of people face in finding, paying for and accessing counselling services. The World Health Organization asserts that at least 19 million South Africans will struggle with mental health issues over their lifetime yet only 25% will seek the help they need.
The company wants to create a world where everyone has a better chance of getting the help they need, when they need it wherever they may need it. The pocketcouch is by no means a replacement for face to face therapy and other mental healthcare help but rather a space to be used in conjunction with what is available to help. The pocketcouch was designed to be an easy to use, non-judgemental and affordable space for clients to get the help they the may need.
The ccompany was founded by Onkgopotse Khumalo, who is a management consultant and financier by training. She shared her perspective on the difficulty of entrepreneurship and what it actually takes to become successful, she said, “A good friend of mine said to me in our check in “it takes 10 years to become an overnight success”. I’ve not stopped thinking about it since. If anything, embarking on this entrepreneurial journey has been a real life testament to this fact.What people don’t see is the constant iteration, pivoting, near giving up, isolation, hearing “No”, back to the drawing board, nearing the end of one’s tether, disappointments and sometimes betrayals that are layered in this journey.”
“It reminded me of the entrepreneurs that remain vulnerable about the not-linear-at-all path towards success who help keep things in perspective while one navigates this very ambiguous space. Shout out to the fellow founders who keep it real and create space for others to do the same. ” she continued.
