Among the 17 groundbreaking projects, smart glasses can help people with severe depression complete daily tasks and AI-driven filter applications to enable government support to transform mental health care in the UK.
The investment was announced today by Minister of Science Lord Vallance and received £3.6 million from Innovate’s UK Mindset Program. These programs are designed to provide real-time, scalable mental health support, reduce NHS costs, and reduce resource stress.
Since the pandemic, people who have received NHS mental health support in England have increased by 40%, so support support. The technology will be developed and tested over the next 12 to 18 months, potential breakthroughs in how patients manage complex conditions such as depression, anxiety, psychiatric disorders and PTSD.
Among innovations are the lightweight smart glasses system developed by Crosssense in London. These glasses use AI to help users with severe depression and memory by identifying home objects and providing real-time prompts through connected apps.
The technology can guide vulnerable people through daily tasks – from issuing safety warnings such as “stay away from boiling water on the Hob” to restructure negative thinking patterns. Over time, it adapts to the needs of the wearer, helps prevent cognitive decline and allows people to live more independently in terms of mental health challenges.
Immersive Therapy and AI-driven Tools
Other projects supported include:
•Life is well performed in partnership with the University of West England and is developing an enhanced reality board game that helps children improve communication, problem-solving and social skills in a supportive interactive environment.
• Northern Ireland-based Life Process Program is building a customizable virtual coach for individuals recovering from substance abuse, simulated real-life therapy courses.
• West Yorkshire’s EcoGPX connects extended reality with sports activities to connect people with nature and relieve anxiety.
• Photography-based Therapeutics, together with the University of Surrey, created the world’s first application to combine AI and AR to help young people use photo editing filters to reduce painful elements in their images, thus replacing them with calming features. These visual effects can then be used in the therapy course to aid communication.
Lord Vallance describes the program as an example of driving life-changing solutions: “From smart glasses that help depression to smart glasses that help children build social skills, we are supporting teams across the UK to build cutting-edge technologies that unlock opportunities to support the NHS and grow our economy.”
Secretary Merron, the mental health bachelor, added: “By embracing new technologies, we are improving lives and reducing stress on the NHS to make health care suitable for the future, which is part of our plan for change.”
Funded programs cover a variety of conditions including ADHD, autism, depression, occupational stress, and addiction recovery. They form part of the government’s broader 10-year health plan, which also promises an additional £688 million to serve mental health, more staff, expand conversational therapy and enhance access through NHS apps.
Expanded reality by investing in (XR) – including VR, AR, mixed reality and haptic technologies – the government’s goal is to put the UK at the forefront of digital mental health solutions. These tools can be obtained on the NHS after clinical approval or through regulated private channels, providing patients with new ways to obtain personalized and effective care.
