Mobile games helps children with anxiety

A new mobile game in Devon is breaking down the barriers for child and youth mental health services

In a pioneering collaboration, the Devon Partnership NHS Trust, alongside Children & Family Health Devon and BFB Labs, have introduced ‘Lumi Nova: Tales of Courage’ to local families in a groundbreaking approach to timely and accessible mental health support. 

Breaking the stigma, this innovative digital therapy is transforming the landscape of mental health support for children and young people (CYP) aged 7-12 facing anxiety, fears and worries, offering a beacon of hope for improved accessibility and effectiveness.

In a fun and engaging way, Lumi Nova provides evidence based therapy in a mobile game - meeting children where they are and teaching lifelong skills to build resilience and face their fears.

The game is available free to families in Devon. Find out more here.

Supporting CYP aged 7-12 with mild to moderate anxiety, Lumi Nova is an award-winning, NICE-recommended and MHRA-registered digital therapeutic, providing a safe, non-stigmatising, effective, and cost-efficient solution.

Provided by practitioners and available for self-referral, Lumi Nova offers immediate access to high-quality intervention. In a recent study, the digital therapy, developed by BFB Labs and co-created with clinicians, experts and parents and CYP with lived experiences of anxiety, demonstrated remarkable results in just three weeks.

The pilot showcased impressive outcomes, with 98% of CYP engaging in the intervention and significant clinical impact observed within just five weeks.

Success in high-deprivation areas like Barnstaple and Ilfracombe sets a benchmark for using digital interventions in mental health support. The case study underscores the potential of digital therapeutics to break down barriers, support all children, provide early intervention, reduce wait times, and offer economic benefits to service providers.

“We have a responsibility to reach the underserved and help bridge inequity for minority communities.The potential is great, not only for the transformation of mental health support for children but as a roadmap for the future of all mental health care,” said Manjul Rathee, CEO at BFB Labs

By offering an engaging digital solution, Lumi Nova paves the way for a more inclusive, accessible, and economically viable approach to child and youth mental health in Devon and beyond.

Lumi Nova is an award-winning digital therapeutic for anxiety disorders in children. Co-created with children, families, clinicians, academics and technology experts, it’s the first therapeutic mobile game to be registered with the MHRA as a CE marked medical device, and recommended by the National Institute of Health & Care Excellence (NICE). 

Lumi Nova combines gaming, therapy and data providing instant access to the gold standard of treatment, exposure therapy and psychoeducation, to enable children to self manage their fears and worries while providing demographic, engagement and outcomes data in real time. Non-stigmatising and engaging for CYPs and parents/carers, Lumi Nova presents a flexible tool for early intervention, standalone treatment or in adjunction to other support mechanisms.