Alli Connect, a Seattle-based startup founded by Colleen Hilton, aims to provide mental health services to first responders. Many first responders face higher levels of trauma, stress, and danger in their line of work, making mental health challenges even more difficult to navigate. There is also a stigma associated with seeking help for mental health issues, with some fearing they could lose their job if they were seen as unfit for duty due to therapy. Alli Connect offers a confidential and easy-to-use platform for first responders to access mental health and wellness assessments to identify and address any struggles they may be facing.
The Alli Connect platform provides routine mental health assessments to detect issues such as depression and anxiety early on, before they lead to burnout or mental health crises. If a first responder wants to meet with a therapist, Alli Connect acts as a matchmaker, using AI-assisted tools to find a suitable provider. The platform also offers mental health education to empower users to take charge of their mental well-being. Studies have shown that mental health issues such as depression and PTSD are significantly higher among firefighters and police officers compared to the civilian population.
Recognizing the need to improve mental health care for first responders, a report ordered by President Biden in 2023 highlighted the importance of addressing mental health challenges in law enforcement occupations. Alli Connect aims to be part of the solution by providing its service to police and fire departments, as well as other agencies that want to support the mental well-being of their employees, families, and retirees. The platform, which has recently expanded nationally after initially focusing on Washington, has received positive feedback from fire and police chiefs who see it as filling a major gap in wellness.
Former U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona, a U.S. Army veteran and deputy sheriff, has joined Alli Connect’s industry advisory board. The company is also backed by Patrick Madden, senior vice president of Axon, a leading police body camera company, who serves on Alli Connect’s board of directors. Despite the nationwide shortage of mental health providers, Alli Connect has not faced challenges in finding therapists. The platform screens therapists to ensure they have the necessary cultural competency to work effectively with first responders. Care is delivered either in-person or through telehealth, with plans to expand services to military members and veterans in the future.
Alli Connect is co-headquartered in Snohomish, Wash., and Boston, and has a team of eight employees. The company is currently raising capital to support its expansion and plans to add four more employees by the end of the year. Colleen Hilton, a licensed therapist with personal experience in law enforcement, founded the company in 2020 under the name Thrivelution. The company has since been rebranded and rebooted in April 2023, with a focus on delivering mental health services to first responders. As the company continues to grow, it aims to support a wider group of Americans and potentially expand globally to serve individuals who risk their lives for others.
