DSIT announces £3.6m funding for regulated mental health tech devices
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), alongside Innovate UK and the Department of Health and Social Care, has awarded £3.6m to 17 UK-based projects through Innovate UK’s Mindset XR for digital mental health programme, as announced by the Science Minister, Lord Vallance and Mental Health Minister, Baroness Merron. Other funded initiatives include a board game developed by Play Well for Life and the University of the West of England to help children build communication and social skills by exploring four themed ‘worlds’ designed to support friendship, problem-solving and emotional regulation, gradually reducing anxiety and building confidence. In Northern Ireland, the Life Process Program is developing a customisable virtual coach to support individuals with substance abuse issues through interactive environments that simulate real-life therapy sessions. In West Yorkshire, EcoGPX is combining extended reality with physical activity to connect people with nature and support adults experiencing generalised anxiety. Additionally, a world-first app is being developed that merges AI with augmented reality to enable young people to create therapeutic visual content. These breakthrough medical device technologies form part of a targeted investment to deliver digital health benefits to the NHS, supporting the government's recently launched 10 Year Health Plan.