Mental Help Global was born out of an urgent need and an unexpected conversation—a moment when two paths crossed at just the right time.
It began at a speaking event, where Clara Kaluderovic, a technology entrepreneur with Ukrainian roots, and Mitzi Perdue, a philanthropist and journalist, found themselves sharing a stage. Mitzi, already a dedicated supporter of Ukraine through her philanthropy and journalism, heard Clara mention her Ukrainian heritage. The connection was immediate, but it wasn’t until they met for coffee a few weeks later that the seeds of MentalHelp.global were planted.
Over coffee, Mitzi shared something that changed everything: the staggering mental health crisis in Ukraine. She described the numbers—millions of people in need, a healthcare system stretched to its breaking point, and therapists overwhelmed by the sheer scale of trauma. Clara, who frequently spoke with family and friends still in Ukraine, realized she hadn’t fully grasped the depth of the crisis.
“I should have known,” Clara recalls. “I thought I did. But I didn’t.”
The two women saw an opportunity to combine their strengths—Mitzi’s passion for humanitarian impact and Clara’s expertise in technology—to create a solution that could address the urgent need for mental health care in Ukraine. What began as an idea grew quickly into a mission: to develop an AI-powered platform that could provide therapy, interconnect fragmented care networks, and offer data insights to improve care outcomes.
It wasn’t just about technology. It was about people. It was about creating something that could meet individuals where they were, offering immediate support without judgment or barriers. It was about helping veterans, children, families, and caregivers navigate the emotional toll of war. And it was about using innovation to bridge the gaps in a system that wasn’t built to handle this kind of catastrophe.
Through partnerships with organizations like the American University of Kyiv, and with the backing of key figures like General David Petraeus, MentalHelp.global took shape. It became a platform designed to scale compassion, offering care to millions while leveraging data to inform better mental health strategies across the country.
Today, MentalHelp.global represents a unique blend of private-sector pragmatism and humanitarian dedication. It’s not just a platform—it’s a lifeline for those in need, a tool for resilience, and a testament to what can happen when technology meets human empathy.
Our story is still being written, but one thing remains constant: our commitment to making mental health care accessible, effective, and transformative for those who need it most.