• by Sara Guaglione , August 14, 2020

Health publisher Healthline Media has acquired psychology and mental-health site PsychCentralfor an undisclosed sum.

This is the fifth acquisition by Healthline since its founding more than 10 years ago. 

Last year, the San Francisco-based company acquired Greatist, a health and wellness site for millennials. 

In 2018, Healthline acquired Authority Nutrition and Everyday Family, which were merged into its other properties. In 2017, it bought Medical News Today. 

Diabetes Mine was added to Healthline Media’s portfolio in 2015.

The PsychCentral deal comes one year after Healthline Media was acquired by Red Ventures, which owns other digital brands, such as Bankrate and The Points Guy.

“With mental-health concerns skyrocketing, the best way for Healthline to quickly meet this demand was to acquire PsychCentral,” Healthline president Jeff Hallock stated.

The publisher’s own research revealed record stress and anxiety among Americans amid the COVID-19 pandemic.  For example, a report in July found an increase in rare heart conditions potentially linked to stress due to the pandemic. 

Prescriptions for anti-anxiety medications increased 34.1% from mid-February to mid-March, according to Express Scripts’ "America’s State of Mind” report. Over half of Americans are living with anxiety, stress and depression. 

In the spring, Healthline launched its own dedicated mental-health section on its flagship site, featuring articles that focus on readers' well-being during the pandemic.

The 25-year-old PsychCentral website was founded by Dr. John Grohol, who remains as a consultant.

Healthline Media says it reaches 87 million people in the U.S. each month.