With half of all mental health issues established by age 14 and 75% by age 24 it is more important than ever that young people are able to access early mental health support to effectively address and manage emerging concerns before they become chronic.

Without meaningful psychological interventions, mental health can deteriorate rapidly, putting young people at risk of harmful behaviours and negatively impacting their education, emotional and social development, and long-term health.

Adolescent mental health services are struggling to cope with demand, and in many areas therapeutic care is restricted to the most serious cases. Research shows that almost 2 in 3 children and young people with a diagnosable mental health condition are not getting access to NHS treatment in the UK alone.

Further to this, young people are spending an increasing amount of time online during an important stage of their neurological development. They are navigating the complexities of growing up, whilst simultaneously dealing with unrealistic beauty standards, exaggerated lifestyles, trolling and exposure to harmful, but often legal, content. A growing body of evidence suggests this is linked to negative psychological outcomes, including low self-esteem, anxiety, body image issues and eating disorders.

As professional waiting lists grow longer and young people devote more time to online activities, accessible and responsible mental health support has the potential to provide a vital lifeline to hundreds of thousands of young people. Cambridge Mind technologies aims to deliver this using conversational AI technology and evidence-based approaches to psychotherapy, enabling young people to build resilience, learn coping skills and develop healthy habits..

In the UK alone, 1 in 4 adults experience mental health issues annually. 1 in 6 adults experience common mental health disorders at any given time. Over 25% of adults report high levels of stress, especially from work or finances

Common conditions include anxiety which affects 6.6 million people. Depression impacts 3.5 million adults. Stress-related conditions from work, finances, or personal life. Hence suicide is a significant concern, particularly among men aged 45-49.

Current Support in the UK: The UK has various mental health services, but they face challenges for those needing immediate, flexible, or personalised and localised care.

Existing Support Systems include the National Health Service (NHS) which provides therapy (CBT, counselling), crisis support (Samaritans, NHS 111), and IAPT for free therapies, though waiting times are long. The private sector offers faster access but can be costly, making it less accessible for low-income individuals. There is also charity & community support: Organisations like Mind and Samaritans provide helplines, counselling, and resources.

What's Missing in the System? Despite existing services, significant gaps remain. There are long waiting times for NHS services, especially IAPT, which can have waiting lists of months or up to a year. One sees limited access in rural or underserved areas. Many services are not available after-hours. Very little personalisation and flexible solutions. A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t cater to diverse needs, and therapies like CBT may not work for everyone. There is still much stigma and lack of confidentiality. These fears deter people from seeking help, especially in professional settings. Proactive Support is required but there is a lack of early intervention to prevent mental health issues from worsening given the waiting times.