mentalis GmbH

The journey of mentalis GmbH began not in a boardroom, but at the nexus of academic research and a pressing societal need. Its conceptual roots trace back to 2015, born from over a decade of intensive research led by Dr. Christian Aljoscha Lukas at the Chair of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy at the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg. Dr. Lukas was dedicated to answering a critical question: how can digital interventions provide effective, scalable help for individuals with mental illness? This academic inquiry laid the scientific groundwork for what would become a pioneering force in German digital therapeutics. The formal leap from research to reality occurred in 2018, when Dr. Lukas joined forces with computer scientist Alexander Ploner and designer Leonhard Glomann to officially found mentalis. Their shared vision was to bridge the dangerous gap in care that many patients face after being discharged from psychiatric hospitals—a phenomenon often leading to relapse, known as the 'revolving door effect'.

From its inception as a university spin-off, mentalis has been on a mission to weave a digital safety net for mental health. The company's approach is not to replace traditional therapy, but to augment and stabilize it through a 'blended care' model that combines algorithm-based, CE-certified therapy apps with personal tele-coaching from certified psychologists. This hybrid model ensures that patients receive continuous, accessible support right in their pocket, helping to solidify the progress made during clinical treatment. The team was soon strengthened by the addition of Hans-Jürgen Stein, who brought his business acumen to the founding team of psychologists and tech experts. Headquartered in Nürnberg, but with a team spread across Germany, mentalis has steadily grown, launching five distinct aftercare programs by 2021 for conditions like depression, eating disorders, and alcohol dependency. With a commitment to evidence-based practice and partnerships with over 100 clinics and dozens of health insurance providers, mentalis is dedicated to making high-quality mental healthcare a seamless and integrated part of a patient's recovery journey, proving that technology and human connection can powerfully combine to heal.