05.02.13
Digital tools to be developed for youth mental health
The Innovation Labs Project has announced £375,000 funding to develop digital products that support young people’s mental health.
The project is a partnership between Comic Relief, the Nominet Trust, Paul Hamlyn Foundation and the Mental Health Foundation. Grants will be offered to seven organisations to create digital tools, in collaboration with young people, who worked to co-design the ideas.
The tools will be developed between February 2013 and June 2014, after the seven winning ideas were selected from 22 applications. They combine expertise across the voluntary, public and private sectors.
Projects include an online mood monitoring tool, a website on young people’s relationships, a tool to help use consultation time effectively, information and advice on how prescribed drugs can influence health and a training service to support adult non-health professionals.
One Innovation Labs young board member said: “I'm enthusiastic about the project as it identifies a very current and urgent area of development. Social media is huge at the moment and currently there is very little to support young people and their mental health.
“I think this project has the power to educate, and give young people the chance to take responsibility for their mental wellbeing.”
Annika Small, chief executive of Nominet Trust, said: “It has been fascinating to watch this programme unfold. The starting point for the Innovation Labs was to engage young people with mental health issues and connect them with youth workers, mental health professionals and technology experts to develop ways to improve mental wellbeing.
“Nominet Trust is passionate about digital technology as a force for social good so we are delighted to see the culmination of the Innovation Labs’ co-design process: the development of a suite of digital apps that has the potential to transform the lives of young people with mental health problems.”
Tell us what you think – have your say below, or email us directly at [email protected]