An NHS service has revealed that 65% of patients referred to Big Health‘s digital sleep improvement program Sleepio have recovered from depression and anxiety, surpassing the NHS target of 50 percent of mental health patients “moving to recovery” after referral for any treatment, including face-to-face therapy. These results also demonstrate that improving sleep could be a smart, destigmatizing way to address mental health problems.
Sleepio is based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which the NHS acknowledged as the most effective treatment for a range of chronic mental health conditions. This therapy uses simple, intuitive techniques tailored to fit each patient, giving them tools to address negative thoughts, emotions and behaviors.
Improving sleep could be a smart, destigmatizing way to address mental health problems.As part of the program test, Manchester Self Help Services — part of the NHS IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) program — has provided Sleepio to over 100 patients, and is continuing to offer Sleepio on an ongoing basis.
“Through using Sleepio at Self Help Services, we have supported clients to learn techniques that have not only helped their quality and quantity of sleep but reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety,” said Nick Baldwin, eTherapy Coordinator, Manchester Self Help Services. “We have seen these improvements in standard IAPT questionnaires and in feedback from clients during their weekly support calls. Our Sleepio service has helped clients gain independence and control over their sleep and general wellbeing… Our recovery rate for Sleepio is above the IAPT average and attests to the success of the Sleepio project.”
Sleepio provides users with a series of exercises personalized to help even long-term poor sleepers.Sleepio provides users with a series of exercises personalized to help even long-term poor sleepers. After discovering their Sleep Score, users learn proven sleep improvement techniques from The Prof, an animated sleep expert who delivers advice on how to improve one’s sleep. Users can also access a range of tools, from a Thought Checker to Daily Schedule, to put their techniques into practice.
“It doesn’t take many sleepless nights to gain an appreciation of the link between sleep and mental health, and in fact up to 90 percent of adults with depression suffer from insomnia,” said Peter Hames, co-founder of Big Health. “For the first time ever, using web and mobile technology, we’re able to provide personalized, evidence-based solutions to patients on a very large scale.”
Sleepio is available online and as a mobile app for iOS-based devices.