Since its launch in January 2024, our fixed term one-year Supported Self-Help service has come to an end, marking a significant milestone in our efforts to provide accessible mental health support. As we wrap up this programme, we not only celebrate its undeniable success but also take the opportunity to reflect on the lessons learned along the way.
The Supported Self-Help service was designed as a free, 6-week guided programme that offered individuals the tools and support they needed to better understand and manage their mental health. While not a traditional counselling service, the programme provided digital support, using a mix of counselling-based techniques alongside Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)-inspired tools. Delivered by us and funded through a partnership with National Mind, the service focused on providing practical guidance for individuals to improve their emotional wellbeing, helping them cope with daily stressors, anxiety, and more.
A key feature of the service was its personalised approach, offering tailored support and regular check-ins to help participants overcome challenges and track progress. This bespoke care was crucial to its success, providing guidance suited to everyone’s needs. National Mind partnered with Limbic to launch Limbic Access, an intelligent digital tool for self-intake and e-triage, which serves as the first point of contact for the national supported self-help programme. Limbic was chosen for its innovative approach and proven success with both NHS and private healthcare partners.
The results speak for themselves. The programme received an impressive 9/10 rating from participants, and nearly 100% stated they would recommend the service to others. These ratings reflect not only the quality of the service but also the profound impact it has had on individuals’ lives.
Here are some testimonials that highlight just how transformative the service was for those who used it:
“I’m now making healthier choices. I’m in the same place by the sea that I was during our first call when I had thoughts of suicide. I feel on a different planet compared to how I felt then.
I’d give it 100%. It helped me and everybody should be able to access this. I was really low that weekend I referred myself, and I didn’t know how I could get out of that. I’ve learnt so many new skills. You’ve supported me massively.
It’s very tailored towards what people are going through and a lot of resources that help with specific problems. The resources are helpful, and the programme has actually helped compared to things other people have said to do before.”
This service uncovered the power of digital tools combined with some human interaction and is a model that we will look to use again in the future if available funding enables us to do so.
