Driving the future of XR innovation in mental health: policy and partnerships

There’s never been a more exciting time for mental health technology, with innovations continuing to transform the landscape of care.

As we move into the new year, HIN Senior Project Manager Shilpi Shobowale looks back on the highlights of some of the projects in the Mindset XR Innovation Support Programme in 2024, as well as what we hope to achieve in 2025.

In December 2024, we had the privilege of hosting a panel discussion at the first face-to-face Shared Learning Community event where experts from techUK, Big Health and Potter Clarkson came together to explore the key drivers shaping the future of mental health tech.

Joined by projects from Innovate UK's Mindset-XR Programme, we had the opportunity to experience the pioneering work in the XR space that is pushing the boundaries of mental health care.

At the event, Daithi Conlon, from the Life Process Programme whose work focuses on supporting people with addiction, discussed how their work is evolving.

He said: “Our proudest achievement from 2024 is that, with the help of the Mindset XR Innovation Support Programme, we’ve been able to take our project – our initial concept - and bring it through to an MVP. We’ve also had the chance to test it with clients and get their feedback. We’ve just come so far in such a short time.” 

Daithi’s work underscores the rapid pace at which XR in mental health is advancing, and how essential it is to involve users early in the process to refine and improve the tools.

At the event, we also heard how many of our innovators on the Mindset XR Innovator Support Programme are paving the way for the next generation of mental health care, offering new ways to engage patients and create personalised treatment experiences. Many of our innovators have begun to trial their products in universities, schools and NHS settings one such example is EXR Solutions who have developed an immersive training product for health and care clinicians.

As digital tools for mental health continue to grow and evolve, the need for thoughtful policy and strategic partnerships has never been more pressing.

The role of policy in shaping mental health tech

In a rapidly evolving tech landscape, clear and comprehensive policies are essential for ensuring that XR innovations in mental health are effective, safe and accessible.

As facilitators of collaboration across all the major stakeholders, the Mindset-XR Innovation Support Programme team will continue to emphasise the importance of legislators and regulators working together to develop standardised frameworks that protect users.

We’ll also continue to champion equity to ensure new technologies enable mental health care to be accessible for all communities.

The power of partnerships

Partnerships are a key driver of progress in mental health tech. By working together, stakeholders can ensure that XR is not only innovative but also clinically effective and accessible to those who need them most.

Industry collaborations with healthcare providers are particularly important. By involving mental health professionals and service users in the design and development of technologies, we can ensure the solutions are more user-centred and address real needs and preferences.

Matt Hoad-Robson from Tend VR reflected on the impact of their work with service users, saying, “We saw some really significant reductions in depression and anxiety, and we got some really incredible feedback from some of the service users about how their lives had been completely changed for the better. It’s such an amazing feeling listening to someone who is telling you that you have changed their lives in a really positive way. It makes it all worth it.”

Matt’s words are a powerful reminder of the profound personal impact XR can have on individuals, reinforcing the need for continued collaboration and feedback to ensure these innovations meet real-world needs.

Claire Koenig of Play Well For Life Ltd, echoed the importance of building strong relationships with healthcare professionals. Reflecting on 2024, she said: “I'm so pleased that some of [the clinicians] are really enthusiastic about piloting Dragons of Afterlands, and some of those pilots are starting this week - which is really exciting!”

Claire’s excitement about the clinical trials for her product highlights how critical collaboration between mental health tech innovators and clinicians is to ensure that new tools meet the practical needs of healthcare settings.

Other partnerships forged in 2024 include one of the Mindset projects, Rescape, teaming up with Universal Music Group to develop a new approach to treat anxiety by integrating music, scenic virtual environments and active listening exercises.

As the use of XR continues to grow in healthcare, it is my belief that whether it's telehealth, XR therapeutics or AI-powered platforms, these technologies should seamlessly complement traditional care models rather than look to replace them.

Looking to the future 

The future of mental health technology is bright, but there are challenges ahead.

Future innovations in XR hold immense promise for revolutionising how we monitor and treat mental health conditions. However, they must be designed with careful attention to sensitivity and user-centric principles to ensure that they meet the needs of all communities.

Looking ahead, Daithi Conlon shared what’s next for his project, saying, “Over the next 12 months we want to take the MVP and develop that into a commercial product. We want to provide our clients with a completely immersive experience to help them focus in on the issues underlying their conditions without distractions from the outside world.”

Daithi’s vision for an immersive, distraction-free experience highlights the importance of creating environments that allow users to fully engage with their own personal mental health journey.

As applications for Innovate UK’s Round 3 of funding for the Mindset programme draw to a close on 15 January, we look forward to welcoming new IUK Mindset projects later in the year and continuing our mission to pave the way for the next generation of mental health care, offer new ways to engage patients and create personalised treatment experiences.

Ultimately, the successful integration of XR in mental health care depends on collaboration and careful regulation - addressing these key areas will allow us to unlock the full potential of mental health innovation, creating a future where mental health support is more effective than ever.