A local stories blog by Dr Nicola Reynolds. Nicola is Deputy Clinical Director for Mental Health at Health innovation Network South London, and Principal Clinical Psychologist / Clinical Lead for Integrated Neurodevelopmental service at Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust. She shares more about her role for Mental Health Awareness Week.
The demand on mental health services has increased significantly since the pandemic, creating long waits for treatment. A great deal has been written about the “crisis” in child and adolescent mental health due to the increase in demand on Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) (1,2).
Digital health technologies have the potential to address the challenges faced in CAMHS and the NHS Long Term plan (2019) set out the goal to embed digitally enabled care into services across the NHS. A key part of my role as Deputy Clinical Director at the Health Innovation Network South London is to work with industry to support the vision set out by NHS England.
I have worked with numerous companies developing innovative products to address the challenges faced in CAMHS. Sometimes the products are at a very early stage of development and in these cases my role is often that of a “critical friend”, giving supportive and constructive feedback about the potential of the product and giving guidance about further steps that may be necessary before it can be considered for the NHS, for example establishing an evidence base and ensuring the appropriate regulations have been achieved. Other companies have well-developed products that are already being used in services, and in these cases my role is more likely to support the adoption and spread by facilitating introductions to NHS services.
It is both exciting and encouraging to see such a broad range of innovative products coming to market that have the potential to provide cost effective, clinically effective and scalable solutions to the current gaps in service provision.
Despite the potential value of digital technologies, there can be many barriers to adoption. In 2023, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust (Oxleas) commissioned Health Innovation Network South London to support the Mental Health Support in Schools Teams (MHST) to improve the uptake of a digital health technology, Lumi Nova (BfB labs) in their services. Lumi Nova (BfB labs) is one of four guided self-help digital CBT technologies recommended in Early Value Assessment by NICE as an initial treatment option for children and young people (aged 5 to 18) with mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety or low mood, while evidence is being generated.
Oxleas commissioned Lumi Nova Tales of Courage in June 2022, and in 2023 this was extended to the MHST’s in the London boroughs of Bexley and Greenwich. The project was completed in 2024 and involved various activities, such as interviews, surveys and workshops with clinicians and managers. The insights from the challenges faced while implementing this innovation into the pathway, and how they were overcome, led to the development of a toolkit, process map and recommendations to support the implementation of Lumi Nova in the service – you can read more in this report.
Innovative approaches are vital to address the current crisis in child and adolescent mental health. Digital technologies have the potential to do this, but there must be a focus on implementation. The Health Innovation Network is uniquely placed to support the system in overcoming these barriers with our expertise in adoption and spread, with Clinical Directors playing a vital role in supporting this given their expertise and knowledge of the NHS.
(1) The Good Childhood Report 2024 The Children’s Society
(2) Record numbers referred for mental health treatment | YoungMinds
A local stories blog by Dr Nicola Reynolds. Nicola is Deputy Clinical Director for Mental Health at Health innovation Network South London, and Principal Clinical Psychologist / Clinical Lead for Integrated Neurodevelopmental service at Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust. She shares more about her role for Mental Health Awareness Week. The demand on mental health services [...]
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