More than one in ten young people feel unable to leave the house due to anxiety issues, while one in five admit to falling apart emotionally on a regular basis. More than a third often feel anxious about everyday situations, and these figures rise considerably for young people who do not have a job and who are not in education. The In Hand co-creation process, in partnership with FACT and Mersey Care NHS, ran fortnightly sessions over a year, engaging over 20 young people who responded to an open call on social media to get involved. The young people involved were all facing mental health challenges including depression, post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, self-harm and eating disorders. Together they created an app to help young people manage their mental health, wherever they may be.
When I’m feeling low I just look on the In Hand app to see if there’s any advice on there to get me back on track and keep me going. — Adam, In Hand co-creator.
In June 2014, In Hand launched in the app store, available for both iOS and Android. In Hand has had over 100,000 downloads across five continents since launch and is recommended by both Mersey Care NHS and GPs, with data analytics showing high levels of continued use. To date, nearly 1,000 people have activated the phone pop-up screen, which includes a link to The Samaritans helpline. This shows just how vital digital mental health solutions are in giving people easy access to essential help when they need it most.
As a pioneering app, the In Hand team of co-creators have been able to work towards destigmatising mental health, encouraging people to talk more openly about their mental health, and raised the profile of the need for digital mental health products like In Hand across the UK. The app is free to download and use, and can serve as a vital first point of contact for people facing mental health challenges or waiting for other mental health related services.
Projects like In Hand show how important it is that we think bigger than just commercial tech and find ways to use technology for good, to empower people, and to improve lives. You can download the app here.
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