Beverly Digital Health Business Awarded $200K Federal Grant

BEVERLY, MA — A Beverly small business that creates virtual communities for those suffering from chronic illness was awarded a $200,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health's Small Business Innovation Research program.

SeeYourselfHealth helps manage their chronic illnesses through fitness demonstrations, educational opportunities and the chance to interact digitally with others who are going through similar experiences.

SeeYourselfHealth CEO Suzanne Mitchell said she anticipates the grant will help the company adapt its platform for older Americans who are isolated and could use the digital community to form real connections.

"See Yourself Health is designing digital health for underserved communities — specifically older adults and low-income people with chronic disease and serious illness," Mitchell said. "We offer people a better patient experience by connecting people to one another and better health through imaginative play — all from the comfort of home. We offer more than tools — we offer friendship, education and support so people can adopt a healthy lifestyle in a safe and confidential virtual care context.

"We are so excited and fortunate to have the opportunity to make a difference."

U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton said in a statement the NIH grant will help create more of a community and relieve isolation for those in need both during and after the pandemic.

"The pandemic has robbed everyone of the human connections that are vital parts of our lives," he said. "The result is that people who were feeling isolated before the pandemic are cut off even more. This grant will help Americans use new technology to build connections even after the pandemic ends."

Did you find this article useful? Invite a friend to subscribe to Patch.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)