Syndi – An integrated digital health platform to enhance self-management of mental health conditions improving the personalisation of care, health outcomes and accessibility.

Mental illness is the leading cause of disability in the UK with 1/4 adults experiencing a mental health problem each year (NHS-England). Despite an NHS annual spend in excess of £14.1Bn in 2021, demand for support significantly outstrips supply. Average NHS wait times for example through the Improving-Access-to-Psychological-Therapy (IAPT) programme exceed 18-weeks and, in some cases, up to 12-months depending on region before the start of therapy. This results in many patients being left to tackle conditions such as anxiety and depression alone, often with significant physical/psychological consequences (2/3rds seeing a significant deterioration while waiting). With 1.6M patients currently waiting for treatment through IAPT (70% of people with a diagnosable mental illness in the end receiving no treatment at all), the NHS has placed immediate focus on the use of digital technology to close the "historic treatment gap in mental health provision". However, with tens of thousands of mobile health tools (wellbeing apps, telemedicine services and digital therapeutics) available, selecting those with sufficient evidence base of safety, and effectiveness and identifying the most appropriate for that individual, represents a significant challenge.

Combining innovations in the use of AI and data science, the Syndi platform has been designed to address challenges in digital mental health services. It uniquely guides users through clinically-validated diagnostic processes for mental health assessment and using machine learning, it uniquely recommends validated mental health tools and support specific to the individual patient and their condition. The concept and design are fully user-driven, with the registered apps validated by One Mind Psyber Guide (mhealth app review organisation) and covering a range of conditions - each for earlier intervention and significantly improved self-management.

In collaboration with the University of Plymouth, Cornwall NHS Trust, and with Innovate UK support, this project aims to better evaluate the impact of Syndi on users' mental health outcomes, explore the potential for patient record integration helping further refine the Algorithm-based recommender systems and identify optimised methodologies for behavioural engagement. If successful, the solution offers significant value in improving the support available to 10M+ adults in the UK suffering with a mental health condition both within and outside of the current care pathway, improving access to support, increased engagement and health outcomes. Future potential in Child mental health where wait times far exceed adult services as well as across wider conditions.