Digital support for young people with anxiety

Waiting lists for mental health services for children and young people with anxiety and depression are challenging, with long waits from referral to receiving support – meaning young people and their families are left unsupported for far too long. Traditional services are also limited to face-to-face support for a limited period of time, which can feel daunting for young people to engage with.

How we helped

A project with the Humber and North Yorkshire ICS Innovation, Research and Improvement System (IRIS) explored the benefits of a digital solution, Lumi Nova, for nine-twelve-year-olds accessing support for mild to moderate anxiety and depression in North Yorkshire.

Lumi Nova is a digital psychoeducation and exposure therapy programme that young people can access independently, completing sessions twice a week for up to 12 weeks.

The project was launched following workshops hosted by IRIS with Humber and North Yorkshire mental health service providers.

These workshops highlighted the clinical desire to have more choices for patients, including a digital solution, which could also help tackle a high number of people waiting a long time to start treatment.

Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber supported a review of available digital solutions, identifying Lumi Nova as a NICE-approved programme already in use in North Yorkshire.

IRIS and Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber then undertook an evaluation to generate evidence of how the digital solution was working in local services.

Impact

Our mixed-methods evaluation of 220 young people accessing the digital tool between 2023 – 2025 showed:

• The digital solution proved an acceptable alternative to face-to-face support, with 92% of young people using LumiNova.
• LumiNova reduced waiting lists, helping more children and young people access support sooner. Missed local 28-day referral targets fell from 97% to 26%.
• Early findings suggest the digital solution may improve anxiety and emotional wellbeing for some young people.

Zoe David,  Service Manager at Compass Phoenix said:

“Digital support options can help improve accessibility and provide children, young people and families with more flexible ways to engage with support. We have seen benefits in offering quicker access following assessment, alongside approaches that feel engaging young people.

“Interactive and gamified elements can be particularly appealing for some children and may help encourage ongoing engagement. We have also valued opportunities for parents and carers to be involved within interventions, helping build confidence in how they can support their child outside of sessions. From a clinical perspective, digital solutions can complement existing pathways and provide additional ways for services to meet differing needs and preference”