The BMJ Awards 2020: Mental health team of the year

Good Thinking

In the past few years, despite an increased focus on mental health, almost two thirds of those in need are not accessing mental health services and those who do, often face long waiting times.

With the launch of Good Thinking in November 2017, London became the first global city to deliver a city-wide digital mental wellbeing service. Users access the free website www.good-thinking.uk and choose an option: anxious, sleep deprived, stressed, sad, or low. They then answer three questions before being directed to relevant NHS approved apps and resources. The most popular resource is a self-assessment tool that offers more detailed information and recommendations.

It was developed through a partnership of local authorities, London’s NHS, and Public Health England and is delivered by Healthy London Partnership. It is promoted on social media, search engines, and other digital platforms. General practitioners can prescribe Good Thinking’s apps through a link from the EMIS library. By December 2019, the service had over 430 000 visits from more than 300 000 individual users

“We are trying to reach people early, where they are online, and offer something helpful whatever level of need,” says Richard Graham, consultant psychiatrist and clinical lead. “The service is available 24/7 and is accessible and private. People can access it on the bus or at 3 am when they can’t sleep and are feeling anxious.”

Supported discharge service

Around 4500 adolescents are admitted to specialist child and adolescent mental health units in England and Wales every year. However, little is known about the optimal models of care for young people …