“We know that long wait times worsen symptoms, so that is the gap we were trying to address: to provide immediate access to affirming clinical therapy,” says Daniel Botcherby, the chief executive and co-founder of LGBTQ+ therapy app Kalda.

Kalda, created during the COVID-19 pandemic, offers digital therapy courses for an annual fee of £35 ($47).

Botcherby, who grew up witnessing his queer friends trying to overcome mental-health barriers, hopes the app will offer solutions.

Analysis of NHS data has revealed that eight times as many people wait more than 18 months for mental-health treatment than for care for physical-health problems, and studies have shown that LGBTQ+ people are more likely to experience poor mental health.

The app is available worldwide on iOS and Android, and since t

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