Therapy For You, the esteemed NHS Talking Therapies service catering to patients in North East and South East Essex, has recently introduced Limbic to their website. Limbic, an innovative mental health referral chatbot utilising artificial intelligence (AI), aims to enhance access to a wide range of talking therapies, providing users with a seamless and convenient pathway to therapy, all online and completely free.
Improving Access to Vital Mental Health Support With the UK government’s commitment to enhancing access to psychological therapies, mental health services across the nation have prioritised this area, understanding its crucial importance. Despite the significant number of individuals affected by mental health concerns each year, only 1.81 million people were referred to NHS Talking Therapies in 2022 out of the estimated 1 in 4 who needed support. Many shy away from seeking help due to fears of judgment, a trend that Therapy For You recognised was impacting their service.
Richard Black, NHS Talking Therapies Digital Services Manager at Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT), expressed the challenge, stating, “To get started with this type of treatment in the past, patients had to ring into the service themselves. For those already finding it difficult to cope, this phone call could become a huge source of anxiety and an enormous barrier to treatment.”
To address this and improve accessibility to their services, Therapy For You sought an online referral pathway that was quick, easy, and supportive. Collaborating with Limbic, the service’s website now features a clinically proven e-triage assistant, leveraging AI to enable users to access a full range of mental health support online, at any time, including out of office hours.
How Limbic Works Limbic engages with visitors to the Therapy For You website immediately, inquiring how it can assist them. This AI-powered chatbot expertly directs users to the appropriate services, such as ieso typed therapy and Omni Online CBT, while also facilitating referrals for talking therapies like 1-1 therapy, group therapy, phone therapy, and video calls.
To achieve this, Limbic collects vital demographic and emotional wellbeing information from users, as well as insights into their current situation. It then delves deeper into mood, anxiety, and day-to-day task management, ultimately completing their referral to the service.
Once the referral is confirmed, usually within a couple of hours and definitely by the next working day, users receive a link to the service’s ‘choose and book’ system. This enables them to schedule a convenient assessment appointment at their preferred time.
The Impact of Limbic Limbic has made a significant impact during its first nine months, with over 4,500 people using the chatbot to make referrals, 89% of whom found the system helpful. Remarkably, the number of phone referrals into the service has decreased by a third, with many visitors opting for the AI assistant to seek the support they need.
Therapy For You acknowledges that Limbic may not suit everyone’s preference for treatment, and phone referrals remain available for those who prefer a more personal approach. Limbic serves as a powerful tool for practitioners, saving individuals the time and anxiety associated with phone calls.
Therapy For You’s collaboration with Limbic exemplifies the value of digital innovation in the therapeutic landscape, fostering accessibility and support for patients throughout their therapeutic journey. This partnership stands as a testament to the dedication of Therapy For You in breaking down barriers to mental health access and providing meaningful help to those in need.
For more information about Therapy For You’s services, visit their website at www.therapyforyou.co.uk, or reach out to them at 01268 739 128 (for South East Essex residents) or 01206 334 001 (for North East Essex residents). Let Limbic be your guide to a better mental health journey.
