North East company educating adults to improve children’s mental health

It is estimated that mental health problems cost the UK economy £300 billion annually. Most of this is due to the lost productivity of people living with mental health conditions, but around £153 billion is attributed to the NHS and healthcare costs. The North East has the third-highest rate of common mental health problems for adults in the country, as well as the highest rates of adolescent self-harm, alcohol misuse, and substance-related deaths.

A partnership for children’s mental health

In light of this, Health Innovation North East North Cumbria (HI NENC) is working with Blue Mental Health Support, a company dedicated to making a lasting, positive impact on children’s mental health. Blue Mental Health Support was established in 2023 through a partnership between Blue Mental Health Education and Training and NTH Solutions. Together, their mission is to empower every adult in a child’s life with the knowledge and tools to become a mental health ally.

Blue Mental Health Support provides resources and educational content created in collaboration with mental health professionals, educators, families, and the NHS. Through their online platform, teachers, parents, and carers can access training and tools that are typically reserved for mental health specialists. Their CPD-accredited courses are equipping adults with the skills and knowledge needed to understand and address mental health issues in children.

Rebecca Meagher, Director & Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist at Blue Mental Health Education & Training, said: “Early intervention and prevention have been top of our agenda when developing this partnership. We know that by acting early and cascading information as widely as possible, we can increase life chances and strengthen communities through access to knowledge and societal narrative shift.

The collaboration with NTH allows us to contribute to healthcare development in the areas we need it most, as well as returning investment to the NHS frontline.”

By helping adults and children understand mental health issues and giving them the right tools early on, before they escalate, Blue Mental Health Support aims to ease pressure on healthcare services in the future.

Innovator support from HI NENC

HI NENC has supported Blue Mental Health’s business development, providing one-to-one guidance on product development and market positioning. Blue Mental Health Support has benefitted from personalised coaching, which has helped them develop their innovative idea further and shape their value proposition. HI NENC has also supported the company in generating evidence and preparing pitches for potential funders and partners, including the NHS and emergency services.

Iain Taylor, Programme Manager at HI NENC, said: “We’re proud to be working with Blue Mental Health Support in their mission to transform children’s mental health across the region. By providing guidance and collaboration, we’re helping to equip families, teachers, and communities with the tools they need to address mental health challenges early on.”

As part of their continued support, HI NENC invited Blue Mental Health and NTH Solutions to exhibit at the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board’s Women’s Health event, in July 2024. This was an opportunity to showcase their innovative training courses and network with key stakeholders in the NHS.

Reflecting on HI NENC’s support, Rebecca Meagher said: “HI NENC has been instrumental in supporting our partnership to thrive through expert guidance, support, and networking opportunities.”

Making a difference in schools

Blue Mental Health Support is already making a difference in schools across the region and empowering future generations with the tools to manage mental health issues.

Carrie Marron, Head Teacher at a school already using the resources, said: “Working with Blue Mental Health has been a transformative experience for our school community. Their high-quality resources and comprehensive training have equipped both our staff team and parents/guardians with the knowledge and tools needed to effectively support children’s mental health. The sessions fostered a shared understanding between school staff and families, creating a truly collaborative approach.

“This innovative training ensures as many people as possible can benefit from the resources and materials, providing a shared and consistent approach for all. Since implementing their strategies and resources into our curriculum, we’ve seen a remarkable improvement in how we address mental health challenges.”

Learn more about Blue Mental Health Support here.

Innovator support

HI NENC specialises in providing support to NHS, academic or industry innovators across the North East and North Cumbria and is also leading the health tech sector as part of the Digital Cluster North of Tyne Programme for businesses in Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland. This project is delivered in partnership with Innovation SuperNetwork and Dynamo North East and funded by the North of Tyne Combined Authority.

If you are an innovator looking to enter the healthcare market, please get in touch to find out about the support HI NENC can offer.