Therapeutic app to support anxiety launches in South Yorkshire

Anxiety disorder can be a debilitating condition for those who experience it. Data indicate that 40% of adults suffer from moderate to high levels of anxiety, while 20% of adults who visit their GPs annually for non-mental health issues often have episodes of anxiety disorder.

We are collaborating with Big Health to further test their app, Daylight, which helps patients over the age of 18 manage anxiety. Daylight is a digital therapeutic tool offering a cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) structured programme through a dedicated app, enabling patients to access immediate support for managing worry and anxiety.

We have been working in partnership with Big Health, South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, Primary Care Sheffield and the York Health Economics Consortium (YHEC) to deliver a real-world health economics evaluation. The evaluation will help demonstrate the impact of implementing Daylight at scale, including its effects on improving patient care outcomes as a first line of treatment.

Since Daylight launched in South Yorkshire last September (2024), 1,151 people have signed up with 702 enrolling and beginning first line treatment in place of medicines. These figures highlight the potential for digital solutions to engage patients effectively, provide accessible mental health support and reduce reliance on medication . This innovation showcases the power of digital technologies in shifting towards preventative care, offering early intervention, empowering people to manage anxiety, and reducing pressure on hospital services.