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    Guided self-help digital cognitive behavioural therapy for children and young people with mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety or low mood

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    2 The technology

    Technology

    2.1 Guided self-help digital cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) provides self-help materials based on the principles of face-to-face CBT in a digital format with some professional guidance. Five digital CBT technologies are available for children and young people with mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety or low mood:

    • Lumi Nova (BfB labs)

    • Online Social anxiety Cognitive therapy for Adolescents (OSCA)

    • Online Support and Intervention for child anxiety (OSI)

    • Space from anxiety for teens, space from low mood for teens, space from low mood and anxiety for teens (Silvercloud)

    • ThinkNinja CBT Bytesize (Healios).

    Comparator

    2.2 The comparator is standard care which may include education, advice, support and signposting.

    Clinical need

    2.3 Mental health services are in high demand and access varies widely across the country. The availability of effective mental health treatments is limited, with a shortage of qualified staff and long waiting times. Access to treatment can depend on the severity of symptoms. Children and young people may be offered education, advice, support and signposting without access to healthcare professionals while waiting for treatment. Early research suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent measures have had a substantial effect on the mental health of children and young people and subsequently intensified the issues related to accessing effective mental health treatments.