Halcyon/Aeson

The lack of immediate therapeutic care for psychiatric emergencies, such as panic attacks, leaves millions of individuals without adequate support during their most vulnerable moments. Globally, over 284 million people suffer from anxiety disorders, many of whom experience acute episodes requiring real-time intervention. In the United States alone, anxiety-related emergency department (ED) visits account for approximately 1.25 million cases annually, with mental health-related ED visits lasting an average of four hours longer than non-mental health-related ones. These prolonged wait times contribute to overcrowding in hospitals and increase healthcare costs—anxiety and fear-related disorders alone accounted for $962 million in ED expenses in 2017, representing 17.1% of all mental and substance use disorder-related ED costs.
Current solutions, such as scheduled therapy appointments and crisis helplines, fail to provide the immediate, on-the-spot intervention required during a panic attack. By developing accessible, real-time intervention tools, we can empower individuals to manage acute anxiety episodes effectively. Potential solutions include wearable technology that predicts the onset of a panic attack through biometric monitoring (e.g., skin conductance or heart rate variability) and AI-driven support systems that provide real-time guidance and calming techniques.