£3.6m awarded for XR digital mental health solutions

More than £3.6 million has been awarded to 17 extended reality (XR) projects to create immersive digital mental health therapeutics to tackle depression, trauma and addiction.

The technologies include smart glasses which help people struggling with severe depression to complete everyday tasks and AI filter apps making therapy for debilitating anxiety less daunting.

They will be developed and trialled over 12 to 18 months – following the funding from the Innovate UK Mindset XR programme, which aims to grow the UK’s nascent immersive digital mental health sector.

Lord Vallance, science minister, said: “These projects are shining examples of how innovation can transform people’s quality of life, by helping those with severe mental health conditions to take on everyday tasks that can otherwise feel impossible.

“From smart glasses helping those with debilitating depression to navigate through the day to games helping children to build their social skills, we are supporting teams across the UK to build cutting-edge tech that unlocks opportunity, supports the NHS and grows our economy.”

The funded projects include virtual reality, augmented reality (AR), mixed reality, haptics – tech that stimulates the senses of touch and motion – and immersive software and audio.

These breakthrough technologies are medical devices available through the NHS following clinical diagnosis, or privately through regulated channels that ensure safety and appropriate use.

Projects are looking to address clinically recognised conditions including addiction recovery, ADHD, autism, anxiety, depression, occupational stress and PTSD.

Dr Cynthia Bullock, director, healthy lives at Innovate UK, said: “Through this latest Mindset investment, we’re fostering powerful collaborations between the UK’s immersive technology sector and mental health providers, moving beyond general wellbeing tools toward innovative treatments for people with mental health conditions.

“These research and development projects are designed to improve the impairment, disability and distress experienced by individuals at any stage of life across the UK.

“By supporting these innovations, Innovate UK is unlocking solutions with the power to drive business growth and maximise both social and economic impact.”

Developments include light-weight smart glasses which use AI to address the impact illnesses like depression, anxiety and psychosis can have on memory loss, by recognising household objects and offering advice on a connected app.

The technology designed by CrossSense helps to reframe negative thoughts while offering step-by-step instructions for carrying out daily tasks, such as keeping vulnerable users safe from harm with prompts like advice to stay away from boiling water on the hob.

It adapts to the wearer’s needs over time and helps to prevent cognitive decline, including dementia, so complex mental health conditions are not an unnecessary barrier to fulfilled and independent lives.

Another project is combining AI with AR to help young people create therapeutic visual content.

The work by Photography Based Therapeutics, working with the University of Surrey, will enable young people to edit photographs using familiar AR filter tools, removing elements that cause distress and adding calming features or text overlays.