PROJECT
WellHappy
FUNDING
£20,000 to date from NHS England
BACKGROUND
Kat Cormack says she can't really remember a time when she didn't suffer from mental health problems. "I've had mental health problems basically my entire life but it took a long time to get help and a diagnosis," she says. It's experiences like this that have powered the 24-year-old's determination to help others and led to her being the driving force behind an app that enables young people across London find the health services they need.
ACTION
The WellHappy app, which was launched a year ago, is aimed at young people aged 12 to 25, allowing them to find health services at the tap of a screen. Cormack, who now works for NHS England in London, worked with YoungMinds, the NHS and independent health service provider Living Well to develop the tool. Young people were involved every step of the way, she says.
One of the key calls in the State of Mind Manifesto for Mental Health, put together by young Londoners, was for more help on where to go for support. "Mental health services are often hidden away," says Cormack. "Young people are often advised to seek help from a GP or teacher who may have no experience of dealing with young people's mental health."
The project encompasses sexual health and substance abuse services because "you can't see mental health in isolation", says Cormack, who would love to see the app rolled out nationwide. "Because NHS services can be so hard to access, many of the local groups featured are voluntary sector," she adds.
The fact the main tool is an app that be accessed via a smartphone makes it easier for young people to use, believes Cormack. They may not feel comfortable looking for help on a home computer while internet searches can bring up millions of results adding to confusion. However, the app is linked to a website that features jargon busters and frequently asked questions to help young people negotiate the system, and where young people can blog about their experiences.
"The main reason it is successful is that it fills a very big gap," says Cormack. "In terms of feedback people say 'This is great but are you genuinely telling me we didn't have anything like this before?' And it wasn't that hard to do."
OUTCOME
WellHappy has been downloaded by more than 3,500 young people so far and the feedback has been uniformly positive. A key group of users are students who have moved to London to study and previously had mental health support at home but don't know where to turn once they arrive in the capital. Cormack was recognised for her work on the project with an Outstanding Social Entrepreneur Award at this year's vInspired national awards.
