LUMI NOVA – The app helping children across Worcestershire with anxiety and mental health issues

MORE than 1,500 children in Worcestershire and Herefordshire suffering from anxiety have been helped by a pioneering mobile game app, writes Elizabeth Price.

Lumi Nova, launched back in 2020, is designed to help young people, aged seven to 12, struggling with symptoms of the condition.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellene (NICE) recommended app provides children and families with on-demand access to gold-standard therapeutic support to ease anxiety symptoms.

Around 70 per cent of Lumi Nova users reported experiencing a ‘clinical range’ mental health challenge. But after usage, 91 per cent of them saw their condition significantly improve or stabilise.

The app was commissioned by NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Intergrated Care Board and has been praised by parents.

‘Helping understand feelings’

Alice, from Worcestershire, hailed the app as a ‘game changer’ for her nine year-old daughter. She added it helped her face fears in a safe, structured way.

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“After using Lumi Nova, Poppy is more relaxed and confident in school and understands herself better.”

The app has also been praised by Yvonne, a Worcestershire mum, whose nine year-old daughter used Lumi Nova to help with her vomit phobia and anxiety.

She said the app provided the family with a ‘much-needed touchpoint’ whilst their daughter was on the waiting list for in-person clinical support. And she said it ‘supplied her with the tools to start acknowledging and addressing her vomit phobia’.

The app has been commended for its ease-of-use as families can access support without a prescription or referral. Lumi Nova’s digital self-referral hub allows for immediate, on-demand access.

Lumi Nova is available on both Android and iOS and supported on older, low-cost devices to maintain maximum accessibility for all families.

Helping face fears

Dr Louise Bramble, GP Partner at Chaddesley Corbett Surgery in Kidderminster, said: “It uses proven Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and exposure techniques, delivered through a fun, game-based format that children engage with well.

“This helps children build confidence, resilience, and practical skills to manage their worries both now and in the future.

“It offers a gentle, non-stigmatising way for children to face their fears at their own pace, while giving parents confidence they are actively supporting their children’s emotional wellbeing.”

Dr Timothy Lee, GP Partner at Hillview Medical Centre in Redditch, added: “The growing demand for children’s mental health services across Herefordshire and Worcestershire (in line with the national picture) means that families often face long waits for support.

“Lumi Nova is a game-changer for General Practice because it provides a NICE-recommended, first-line treatment option that children and families can start using immediately at home with no need to have a referral.”

Manjul Rathee, Founder and CEO of BFB Labs, the social enterprise behind Lumi Nova, said he was delighted to see the positive impact the app was having on children and young people experiencing difficulties with anxiety across Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

“With the number of children struggling with mental health challenges across the UK rising, it has never been more important to focus on delivering timely, accessible support.

“Inclusive, tech-led interventions, like Lumi Nova, are helping achieve this, offering new and alternative routes to support for this digitally native generation.”

Since its launch in 2020, Lumi Nova has been accessed by over 20,000 children nationally, through schools, community services, local authorities, and the NHS.

Support is available in approximately 20 areas of the UK including Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

Parents can visit: luminova.app/get-access to find out more.