A PIONEERING intervention which gives children on-demand access to a therapeutic mobile game which can ease childhood anxiety is now available to all young people aged seven to 12 in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
Called Lumi Nova, the immersive game is recommended by NICE and combines CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) with ethical gaming delivered via a mobile app.
Lumi Nova gives children instant access to an age-appropriate therapeutic mobile game to self-manage their worries and build lifelong mental resilience and acts as a first-line treatment option to support anxiety before interventions like therapy are considered.
Alternatively it can be used whilst young people wait for other support and aims to help bridge the gap in mental healthcare provision for children with mild to moderate anxiety.
It’s been co-designed by social enterprise BFB Labs along with children, parents, NHS clinicians, educators and mental health experts.
The intervention takes children through a series of personalised quests – such as imagining and drawing themselves in particular scenarios or watching immersive videos where their worry plays out in real time – to gradually expose them to the fears and anxieties they face and give them the tools to overcome them.
Manjul Rathee, founder and CEO of BFB Labs said: “We are delighted to work with NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire to offer Lumi Nova to children and families across the two counties. This allows us to provide age-appropriate, non-stigmatising support for everyday worries and anxiety, without families having to wait.
“Our intervention can also alleviate some of the pressure on the NHS. By reimagining child-centred, inclusive mental health care for a new generation, Lumi Nova helps young minds overcome challenges and build lifelong resilience.”
Half of all mental health disorders start by the age of 14. The Children’s Commissioner’s report in March 2024 showed more than a quarter of a million young people were waiting for mental health support in England alone. Left untreated, mental health issues can escalate and become harder to treat.
Sonja Upton, associate director for children, young people and families and specialist primary care at Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust added: “Improving the emotional wellbeing of children and young people in Herefordshire and Worcestershire is a key priority for us and our partners in the local authority, education, community and voluntary organisations.
“We are excited to be able to offer this innovative intervention to children in our area. We know many children will benefit from having quick access to an online platform that helps them manage and reduce worries and anxieties in order to enjoy their life to the full.
“By introducing Lumi Nova as one way for young people to better understand how they are feeling and practise ways of managing their worries, we can offer an early intervention that could prevent issues from escalating.”
Visit https://www.luminova.app/handw to find out more.
