As part of Leeds Digital Festival, we hosted an event exploring how digital therapies and AI can meaningfully transform access to mental health support.
The session brought together members of our team alongside partners from SilverCloud by Amwell and Aire Innovate to share insights, challenges, and innovations from our current work.
Embedding digital therapies
The discussion began by sharing how we have embedded digital interventions into our children and young people services.
Helen McGlinchey, our Director of Children and Young People Services & Clinical Lead, spoke alongside Douglas Hiscock, Chartered Occupational Psychologist and Behavioural Health Lead at Amwell, discussing how asynchronous therapy models are helping us meet growing demand.
“We could see the waitlists increasing for children and young people,” Helen explained. “By working in partnership with SilverCloud, we’ve increased our capacity through digital intervention. Digital allows us to support clients on a programme within a week of receiving their referral.”
Through platforms like SilverCloud, we are able to offer flexible, smart device-friendly, evidence-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) programmes that can be accessed at a time and pace that suits the user and fits into people’s lives, especially for those who may not feel ready or be able to engage in traditional face-to-face therapy.
How digital therapies can support individuals and clinicians
By using digital intervention, we have seen a 57% reduction in overall wait times and our children and young people programmes are now used in over 350 schools, with overwhelmingly positive feedback from young people, families and carers.
“Digital is accessing people that have never accessed mental health support before,” comments Douglas.
“We had to think about how we get these new tools into the hands of young people using mobile. CBT homework can be put on a digital system, giving flexibility and availability and a way to reach people.”
Digital tools don’t just benefit service users; they support our clinicians too. By combining our own industry knowledge and expertise, alongside the support and tech of SilverCloud and Aire Innovate, these digital platforms follow clinical guidance, while remaining meaningful and accessible. This means that clinicians can then trust giving this to their clients and support them from afar.
These programmes also include tailored support for parents and carers, and outcome tracking that helps us demonstrate impact.
Using AI to enhance, not replace
Amanda Coates, our Assistant Director for Innovation & Impact, joined Dr. Michael Odling-Smee, Founder and Director at Aire Innovate, to discuss how AI is helping us streamline triage, improve service navigation, and reduce digital inequality.
From predictive analytics to AI-generated patient summaries, we’re using technology to support, not replace, human insight.
Douglas explained, “When you bring anything digital, you have to look into the moments where it no longer makes sense for the previous ways and look at how AI can help and assist without taking lead.”
“Having the digital access channels will hopefully relieve the burden on the services. It is not trying to put a one size fits all on it, but instead it is there to help provide more channels to increase support access.”
We’re taking a phased approach to implementation, starting with digitising referral pathways and building the architecture needed to safely introduce AI into our systems.
Ethical and operational considerations
We know that introducing tech into emotionally complex services requires care. Our approach is grounded in safety, accessibility, and a people-first mindset. Clinicians use AI insights as a starting point, not a final decision, and always apply their professional judgement.
In the event Q&A, it was asked ‘what are the risks of using AI?’ In reply, our speakers discussed that as we move everything forward in introducing digital, it is important to still have human and clinician insight. By using AI, it does not mean that clinicians will be taking all AI summaries at face value, but using them as a starting point, before proceeding with their clinical risk screening and support.
As Michael added, “the smaller the steps we make, the less risk in each step.”
Collaboration is key
The event was a celebration of our collaboration with SilverCloud, Aire Innovate and other organisations in the health sector. We believe that by working together, we can build systems that are not only efficient but also compassionate, inclusive, and responsive to real-world needs.
Our CEO, Duncan Pearse, added “We are in this for the long haul and the other organisations such as SilverCloud and Aire Innovate, may have different drivers and goals in their work but we are all here for the better of the people we support.’
We’re grateful to everyone who joined us, asked questions, and shared ideas. If you would like to join the conversation and share your thoughts, then contact us on Bluesky.
