Cope Notes
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telepsychiatry, Mental health |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Founder | Johnny Crowder |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | Worldwide (97 countries as of 2025) |
| Products | Mental health support text messaging service |
Cope Notes is a United States-based telepsychiatry service focused on mental health, delivering uplifting affirmations and positive insights to subscribers aimed at alleviating symptoms of depression and anxiety. Each communication features psychological information, practical exercises, and prompts for journaling, all vetted and endorsed by a team of mental health experts.
By May 2025, Cope Notes had expanded its reach to more than 40,000 individuals across 97 countries, having distributed upwards of 4 million messages by the conclusion of 2024.
History
Established in 2018 by Johnny Crowder, a musician and Certified Recovery Peer Specialist, Cope Notes provides randomized daily text messages containing mental health support materials. Recipients are invited to engage actively with the texts, effectively transforming the messaging thread into a personal journal.
The idea was inspired by an in-person support group led by Crowder during his post-college years, which gradually transitioned into a virtual peer support community supplemented with SMS communication. While touring with his heavy metal bands Dark Sermon and Prison, Crowder created the service to address challenges such as substance abuse encountered among his audience.
In 2025, Cope Notes was incorporated into UnitedHealthcare's Florida Medicaid program through a statewide five-year agreement. This followed an initial pilot contract with UnitedHealth Group, enabling service delivery via UnitedHealthcare and Optum.
Studies
A May 2022 study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research revealed that 86% of users appreciated the service for its role in reshaping their mental wellness perspectives, noting significant correlations between personality traits and acceptance of the service; however, 14% preferred a more customized approach.
Research featured in the Journal of Mental Health in March 2023 indicated that individuals experiencing severe depression reported notable decreases in anxiety, depressive symptoms, and stress levels, along with enhanced emotional intelligence after one month of Cope Notes usage. Those with mild to moderate symptoms demonstrated improvements in overall coping mechanisms and problem-focused strategies. The study sample consisted primarily of white female students from the University of South Florida.
A 2025 case study involving faculty, staff, and students from over 100 schools across Pasco, Desoto, and Charlotte counties in Florida—where Cope Notes was provided at no cost through collaboration with the Central Florida Behavioral Health Network—found that 98.8% of participants felt "more positive and supported," with 85.4% engaging with the service daily. This partnership commenced in 2024 and was renewed in 2025.
Recognition
Cope Notes received accolades in Tampa Bay Inno's Inno On Fire awards in 2020.
In 2022, it earned the People's Choice award at the national Startup of the Year summit, ranking within the top 15 out of 100 semi-finalists.
The company was also acknowledged as a Healthtech honoree at the Tampa Bay Inno Awards in 2024.