Taking the Panic Out of Panic Attacks—With Technology

Malisa Aksentijevic always thought of himself as invincible. A chess champion and mathematical prodigy from Serbia, he had become the youngest CEO of a 117-employee company in the energy sector at just 24 years old. His career was on a meteoric rise, taking him from his home country to Germany, where new opportunities awaited. But one day, everything changed.

"I thought I was having a heart attack," Aksentijevic recalls, his voice still tinged with the memory of that terrifying moment. "It was the most frightening experience of my life." When doctors informed him it was actually a panic attack, his initial relief quickly gave way to a new kind of fear. "Oh God, thank goodness it's not a heart attack," he remembers thinking, "but what does a panic attack mean?"

For the next two years, Aksentijevic's life spiraled into a nightmare of anxiety and panic. He lost 17 kilograms, struggling with every bite of food. "I stopped eating," he explains. "I was thinking about every morsel, and it got to the point where I couldn't even swallow." Despite his deteriorating condition, he refused to seek medical treatment, believing he could overcome it through sheer willpower.

It was during this dark period that Aksentijevic, drawing on his background as a mathematician and engineer, began to analyze his condition logically. "I saw significant shortcomings in how people are diagnosed, monitored, and treated for mental health issues," he says. "I realized that technology could play a crucial role in addressing these challenges."

After two grueling years, Aksentijevic finally conquered his anxiety. But his experience had opened his eyes to a global crisis. "I decided I had to help others who were suffering like I had," he states.

This revelation led to the birth of WEVO, a name combining "we" and "evolve." Aksentijevic, who considers himself as a divergent thinker, envisioned a multifunctional platform that could assess, report, monitor, and guide people with mental health issues. "Technology is not here to replace us but to serve us," he emphasizes. "We ask the questions, and machines give us answers, performing complex calculations in a fraction of the time it would take humans."

WEVO's approach addresses several critical issues in mental health care. "Today's main problems are lack of access, insufficient capacity in terms of therapists, and a lack of quality information for personalized treatment," Aksentijevic explains. "We want to provide assessments that can be done at home, cutting the time it takes to see a therapist."

The platform generates reports for individuals, doctors, family members, or relevant institutions within seconds. This efficiency extends to triage, helping prioritize those most in need of immediate care. "Treatments shouldn't be based on who calls first," Aksentijevic argues, "but on who needs help most urgently."

Drawing a parallel with cancer treatment, Aksentijevic stresses the importance of early intervention. "If recognized in the early stages, many mental health issues are manageable. We want to help younger people especially, catching problems before they become deeply rooted."

WEVO's potential reaches beyond individual therapy. Aksentijevic sees immediate applications in crisis zones like Ukraine. "After the Russian invasion, there's an urgent need to identify PTSD, stress, anxiety, and depression," he explains. "Our tool can be used from a cell phone, even under bombardment, when seeing a doctor in person is impossible."

The platform assesses psychological states and generates comprehensive reports on various emotional problems, including trauma and anger. This accessibility is crucial in war-torn regions where traditional mental health services are disrupted.

Aksentijevic's vision for WEVO is both immediate and far-reaching. "Sometimes, technology has great potential but isn't ready to solve current problems," he reflects. "People can't wait five years for solutions. We believe our platform can make a difference right now."