The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has announced 17 new technology-driven projects to improve access to mental health support for young people, marking World Mental Health Day with a focus on innovation and early intervention.
The projects, which share a £1.5 million ($2 million) funding pot, aim to reduce long waiting times and provide more personalised care through AI and digital tools that can detect early signs of conditions like autism and predict the type of support a child may need.
Tackling the Youth Mental Health Crisis
According to the latest NHS mental health dashboard, almost 830,000 people under 18 accessed community-based mental health services in the past year — one of the highest figures since records began in 2016.
However, the data also shows a growing backlog:
- Nearly 250,000 children and young people are waiting for their first contact after being referred for help.
- Over 35,000 have been waiting for more than two years.
Charity YoungMinds described the figures as evidence of “the shocking scale of the mental health emergency facing young people,” blaming a long-standing lack of investment and reform.
How NIHR’s Funding Will Help
NIHR says the new projects are designed to reduce waiting times, streamline diagnosis, and connect mental and physical health care in more efficient ways.
Among the newly funded innovations are:
- AI triage tools that recommend care pathways within the EnrichMyCare platform, already used in NHS systems to help families track children’s development.
- Autism detection technology that observes toddlers’ facial interest and social interactions to spot early signs of neurodevelopmental differences.
- Digital prioritisation systems to manage neurodevelopmental waiting lists based on urgency and need.
- Wearable devices for teachers to help identify pupils showing signs of anxiety or depression.
A full list of funded projects is available via the NIHR website.
Building a Smarter, More Responsive System
“Children and young people with mental health challenges and neurodevelopmental conditions including ADHD and autism deserve timely, personalised care — and technology has a vital role to play in making that possible,” said Prof Paul Dimitri, Director of the NIHR HealthTech Research Centre (HRC) in Paediatrics and Child Health.
“At the HRC, we’re focused on accelerating innovations that reduce delays, empower families, and support clinicians with smarter tools,” he added.
Prof Dimitri said the funding represents “a crucial step toward building a more responsive and equitable system for the children and young people who need it most.”
A Broader NHS Mental Health Commitment
The initiative supports the UK government’s 10-Year Plan for the NHS, which includes:
- £120 million investment in 85 mental health emergency departments.
- Recruitment of 8,500 new mental health professionals.
- Creation of community hubs for children and young people offering integrated mental health services.
- Self-referral access to psychotherapies via the NHS App.
The NIHR’s latest funding push signals a shift toward technology-led solutions that could help the NHS meet growing demand and bridge the gap between referral and treatment for thousands of young people across the UK.
