Mental health & neurodiversity

One in four adults and one in 10 children experience mental illness.

Health Innovation KSS is working with NHS commissioners and systems leads, the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey and Sussex (ARC KSS), industry partners, other health innovation networks, voluntary and community sectors, and those with lived experience to support the spread and adoption of innovation in mental health.

Mental health and neurodiversity illustration - Lady watering flowers on her head

Our work

Health Innovation KSS is helping to tackle mental illness and improve mental wellbeing by focusing on key priorities including:

  • Children and young people’s mental health
  • Peri and post-natal mental health
  • Neurodiversity
  • Adult mental health, including community, acute and crisis care

We have supported the implementation of national programmes tackling mental health such as the adoption of early intervention models for eating disorders and the roll-out of an objective test for diagnosing ADHD. We have also supported the implementation of key mental health programmes locally, such as the evaluation of the introduction of Mental Health Practitioners in Kent and Medway as part of the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS).

We enable digital mental health innovation by supporting innovators and helping local systems to identify and evaluate digital interventions that could benefit their mental health services.

Resources & toolkits

NEW: Exploring innovation for neurodiversity in youth justice settings

A resource to understand priorities and opportunities for supporting neurodivergent young people through innovation in justice settings.

Link

Intercultural awareness toolkit for healthcare professionals

An intercultural awareness toolkit to support those working with asylum seekers and migrants.

Link

Whole School and College Approach (WSCA) Measurement Toolkit

Allowing educational settings to reflect regularly on the implementation of their WSCA work and track its impact on key outcomes.


Current programmes

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At Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex, we support health and care teams to deliver culturally sensitive, equitable and inclusive services.

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About one in five children and young people aged 8 to 25 years old have a probable mental health disorder (NHS Digital, 2023).

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News and case studies

Contact us

If you’d like to find out more about our work in mental health and neurodiversity or are interested in collaborating with us, get in touch.

Meet the team Get in touch