Innovating Mental Health Services in Scotland Open Innovation Challenge: Phase 2 Results

Vision: Delivering person-centred and equitable Mental Health support and services for people in Scotland.

Background

The Scottish government Chief Scientist Office and the Scottish Government Mental Health and Wellbeing Directorate are investing £750,000 including VAT, in a Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) focused on innovating mental health services in Scotland.

The competition provides an opportunity for companies, working in partnership with NHS Scotland regional Innovation Hubs to develop disruptive innovative solutions that address:

• Young persons challenge

• Hard to reach populations (people with existing mental health conditions and/or people with a co-occurring condition e.g. sensory loss, alcohol, or substance issues)

• Patient centred care pathways

• Treatment resistant conditions

• Prioritisation of backlog

The aim of this competition is to develop disruptive innovative solutions that address:

Challenge A - Supporting people who are not currently receiving treatment and addressing the backlog of patients on waiting lists.

Challenge B - Delivering person-centred and equitable Mental Health support and services to people who are currently receiving treatment by optimising clinical and social care pathways.

The challenge was launched in 2022 and attracted a high number of excellent applications. Five companies successfully completed their 4-month Phase 1 feasibility projects in May. Following a competitive application, 3 companies have embarked on their 12-month Phase 2 prototyping and validation projects. 

Voxsio have been successful in progressing to Phase 2, working alongside NHS Grampian on "Supporting Young People Who Can’t Access Face-to-Face Services."

Follow the link here to find out more information on their project and other successful companies in this challenge area.