The North East and North Cumbria has the third-highest rate of common mental health problems for adults in the country. This includes conditions like anxiety and depression. The region also has some of the highest rates of suicide and adolescent self-harm in the country.

As part of the Mindset Extended Reality (XR) for Digital Mental Health Programme led by Health Innovation Network South London, Health Innovation North East North Cumbria (HI NENC) has been working with innovators to advance their digital XR solutions for mental health therapy.

The Mindset XR Innovation Support Programme Roadshow has been travelling across the UK, celebrating the programme’s launch and offering regional innovators a platform to showcase their XR products and stories.

In July, Chloe Blewitt, Project Manager for HI NENC, visited the Advanced Research Centre in Glasgow, to introduce the programme to Scottish innovators. In this blog, Chloe reflects on the event and shares how HI NENC is empowering XR innovators to transform mental health care.

 

What is ‘Extended Reality’ and how can it help people experiencing mental health problems?

Extended Reality (XR) is an umbrella term that covers a range of immersive technologies that blend real and virtual environments, powered by computer technology. This includes:

• Augmented Reality (AR)
• Virtual Reality (VR)
• Mixed Reality (MR)
• Haptics
• Interfaces
• Platforms
• Software

The goal of XR in mental health is to accelerate treatment by providing faster, more accessible, and immersive support for people. Innovators are exploring various ways to use XR to address mental health problems. For instance, XR Therapeutics has developed simulations of real-life scenarios to help treat phobias or manage conditions like anxiety and autism. Care Reality has created Virtual Choirs, a multi-user VR group singing experience for residents in care homes, used to combat loneliness among elderly people. As XR technology continues to evolve, the possibilities for its application in mental health are expanding, so it’s exciting to think about what the future will look like.

What was the Mindset XR Innovation Support Programme Roadshow about?

Originally, the Roadshow was organised to announce Mindset XR funding winners and discuss future funding rounds. However, due to the general election, this was no longer possible, so we had to get creative.

We decided to focus on explaining what the Mindset XR Programme is and its value to XR innovators. As well as grant funding for research and development projects, it also provides:

• Investment partnerships to boost government funding and catalyse future investment
• Support programme led by Health Innovation South London to encourage knowledge sharing, adoption and scaling and market longevity

The event also provided a platform for current innovators in the XR space to share their experiences and showcase their designs.

What were your highlights from the event?

The day was a real success, and it was fantastic to see the enthusiasm and eagerness of all the attendees. One of the standout moments was experiencing some of the incredible XR innovations that innovators had brought along to demonstrate. Play Well for Life showcased their augmented reality board game, Dragons of Afterlands, designed to develop well-being skills and improve communication among adolescents. As well as Virtual Choirs, Care Reality brought a second innovation called FLO, a VR learning platform for adult social care that allows learners to practice managing challenging and potentially harmful situations.

Initially, I was concerned that attendees might be hesitant to try out these innovations, but people were keen to get involved and even stayed after the meeting to network and continue to demo. I had expected 80% of people to leave after the presentations had ended, so it was great to see attendees stay late and have such a positive reaction to the innovations.

What were some of the standout moments from the ‘Innovator Experience’ session?

During the ‘Innovator Experience’ section of the day, attendees shared what had them to create these products, how they have been achieved and the hurdles they had run into. Their stories highlighted the real-world impact XR can have on mental health.

We heard from Sandy Tarvet, who was motivated by his father’s struggle with mental health to create The Longest Walk. It is a virtual experience designed to let users ‘walk in another’s shoes’, helping them understand and cope with depression and suicidal thoughts. Sandy’s father had gone through three major depressive episodes, and after years of medication and therapy, reached a point where he felt he could share his experiences with family and friends facing similar challenges.

Sandy recognised the positive impact these conversations had on people and sought to replicate that effect on a broader scale using XR. It was amazing to hear about Sandy’s journey developing the game and the awards and recognition he has since received. His story highlighted the powerful impact XR technologies can have in supporting people with mental health problems.

What did you learn from the event?

We had a good mix of attendees from various backgrounds, including government, industry and academia, all providing valuable perspectives on the potential challenges and benefits of XR. A key takeaway was the impact of geography; it became clear that one roadshow event in Scotland was not enough, and a lot of people would struggle to attend. It was also raised that England and Scotland follow different regulatory approvals, something I hadn’t thought of before the event. This will definitely be something to consider moving forward.

What happens next and how can innovators get involved?

The winners of the second funding round have been announced, with another round scheduled for later this year. We will continue to provide business support to innovators involved in the project, who are looking to develop technology in the XR space. The HI NENC team will have regular catchups with the innovators to provide tailored, one-to-one support, which will vary depending on their needs and stage in our Innovation Pathway.

We aim to build an ecosystem within this space to help understand the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of building XR innovations. It was highlighted at the event that this is such a new area of innovation, that you can’t necessarily learn from someone or follow best practices, as they are still being established.

It is clear that the potential of XR is still being explored and I can’t wait to see what innovations are still to come!

If you are an XR innovator who may be eligible for Mindset XR funding or coaching, please get in touch!