Brain in Hand has walked away with the Psychiatric Team of the Year: Digital Mental Health award at this year’s Royal College of Psychiatrists RCPsych Awards.
The digital healthcare system has recently carried out a multi-site, mixed study led by Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, that explored the impact of its supported self-management approach for autistic adults. It was noted by the award judges that this research is helping to pave the way for digital innovations to deliver support at scale and pace.
Brain in Hand’s system combines personalised digital tools with on-demand human support and coaching.
The research was carried out within the NHS in a collaborative working partnership with academia and industry. According to the results of the 12-week study, use of the system led to a significantly reduction in anxiety, self-injurious behaviour and memory and orientation problems.
The award win was recognition for how the tool can support a future in which technology is used to its fullest potential in the healthcare sector and for the positive impact it can have on autistic adults and those awaiting diagnosis.
Dr Louise Morpeth, CEO of Brain in Hand, said: “The research conducted by Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has proven just how crucial digital support can be for the autistic community.
“It is an honour to be recognised for our work on this and a real sign that we’re heading in the right direction as we continue our efforts to transform support. It was also brilliant to see that the judges singled out the way autistic people were valued as partners in co-designing the study because we think that’s the best way to ensure what we’re doing really works for them.”
Last year, Brain in Hand was awarded a £400,000 NHS grant as part of the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Healthcare award which was put towards developing and testing a new method of researching young people with autism.