Myrtle Beach Attorney Raises $500,000 in Funding for Mental Health App Startup
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C., May 10, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WhiteFlag, a mobile phone app that connects people struggling with their mental health to free, 24/7 customized peer-to-peer support, announced today that it has raised $500,000 in its first investment from an angel investor.
CEO and founder Jonny McCoy leads the team alongside co-founder Chief Technology Officer, Trent Tinker. Chief of Operations Patricia McCoy, Vice President Kash Kiefer, and adviser Joey Jackson round out the executive team.
“WhiteFlag is an anonymous, safe space where people who are silently suffering can connect with others who understand their struggle — 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” said McCoy. “The app was built by people who know the struggle, the loneliness and the hurdles to finding help. We are grateful for the belief, encouragement and support that we have received from our investors and we look forward to working with them to make positive changes in millions of people’s lives across the country.”
A Myrtle Beach native and successful civil rights attorney, McCoy has dedicated his life to fighting for people’s rights. In the midst of a career spent representing major insurance companies, professional athletes and public officials, his world collapsed when he was falsely arrested and witnessed a suicide while being unlawfully detained. As a result, his mental health suddenly took a dark turn. He found himself struggling with an alcohol and prescription drug addiction as well as unrelenting PTSD, anxiety and depression.
“When I was at my lowest point, the isolation was absolutely crushing. Coupled with the alcohol and pill dependency, the struggle was unbearable as I felt like I couldn’t tell anyone what was going on. My real healing started when I began connecting with others who were struggling through the same things,” said McCoy. “WhiteFlag is built for everyone, including those who feel disconnected, alone and helpless — the people who desperately need to hear someone say ‘I understand how you feel’ and mean it. In addition, folks who are looking for a way to help can easily find those who need it the most. At WhiteFlag, we live by the mantra, ‘helping people heal, helps me heal.”
McCoy developed the idea for WhiteFlag following a stay in a PTSD treatment facility several years ago. Production of the app began last summer after McCoy launched a series of mental health-oriented programs in Horry County, including a PTSD support group and the Horry County Citizen’s Crisis Response, a charity known for assisting locals with their personal and mental health needs at the beginning of the pandemic.
WhiteFlag will be available for download in the Google Play and Apple stores in early June and is currently seeking beta testers. To participate in the app’s beta test or to learn more about WhiteFlag, visit whiteflagapp.com
About WhiteFlag
WhiteFlag is an app that connects people from all walks of life with 24/7 peer-to-peer support for mental health challenges, immediately, anonymously at the click of a button. No appointments, no judgement, just support from people who have been exactly where you are, exactly when you need it.
For more information about WhiteFlag, visit WhiteFlagapp.com, @WhiteFlagApp on Twitter and Instagram, or Facebook.com/WhiteFlag.
Contact information:
Paige Schultz
[email protected]
