IT4Anxiety Hackathon 2022

The 5th IT4Anxiety Hackathon of 2022will take place at the Alexander Bell Centre for Digital Health in Elgin, Scotland from the 22-23rd June. However, we welcome and encourage applications from across the UK and in Northern Ireland.

Are you a start-up developing innovative technological solutions in Mental Health for people living with anxiety?

Would you value being part of an established community that can help to test and support your idea, whilst being in with a chance of winning up to £2000 plus direct access to valuable ongoing support from the Scottish Government’s national lead in Digital Mental Health?

NHS Western Isles is delighted to be partnering with IT4Anxiety to deliver its 5th international Hackathon of 2022. The event will be hosted at the Alexander Graham Bell Centre for Digital Health in Elgin, Scotland from the 22-23rd June. Applications are now open for innovative technological solutions in Mental Health for people living with anxiety.

More information on the project and how to get involved is detailed below.

About the IT4Anxiety project

IT4Anxiety aims to support the implementation of innovative solutions through start-ups with the objective developing innovative technological solutions in Mental Health for people living with anxiety.As the population in North-West Europe is aging, the prevalence of people living with a diagnosis such as anxiety, Dementia or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is also growing. The management of anxiety is crucial for these mental health conditions. The COVID-19 healthcare crisis and lockdown measures put in place led to an increase in the digitalisation of health care. IT4Anxiety aims at working together with mental health professionals, carers, and people with lived experience of mental health to co-create and implement innovative solutions meeting the users’ needs.

The IT4Anxiety Hackathon process

Applications for the NHS Western Isles Hackathon are now open and close at 12 noon on the 30th May 2022. Applications will be assessed against the events investment criteria:

• Usefulness: Is the product/service useful? Does it provide significant added value for health professionals and/or users?
• Design: Is the product/service easy and pleasant to use?
• Originality: Is the product/service unique and/or innovative?
• Data: Is the product/service evidence based?
• Was the product/service co-designed and co-evaluated with the people directly concerned?

Applications will be shortlisted from 2nd June. From 7th – 15th June, participants will be invited to attend inspirational talks around e-Mental-/Health and coaching sessions, as well as take part in workshops on how to pitch for investment successfully. Then, in teams, participants will work together to develop their pitch that they wish to present to the panel of judges at the final event. The Hackathon will take place at the Alexander Graham Bell Centre for Digital Health in Elgin, Scotland from the 22-23rd June. Up to three winning solutions will be selected to be part of the IT4Anxiety project. Prizes range from £500 – £2,000. Ongoing support and advice will also be provided by the NHS Western Isles Research and Innovation team, Ulster University, and Chris Wright, the National Advisor for Digital Mental Health to the Scottish Government.

What are the benefits of participation?

All participants will benefit from:

• A range of online workshops provided by The Lens which will help you develop your solution into an investment ready idea. From Business Storytelling to Value Propositions, Business Modelling to Pitching, Developers at the Lens will be on hand to provide dedicated support and training so that you can showcase your idea to the judging panel with confidence.
• The opportunity to meet and network with key organisations and stakeholders in the Digital and health sector.

Who can apply?

The Hackathon, while hosted by NHS Western Isles, is open to participants across the UK. We welcome applications from:

• Start-ups and SMEs from the E-Mental health sector or E-Health sector looking to develop their activities in E-Mental health.
• PhD Students (or students graduating soon) in e.g., medicine, mental health, engineering, entrepreneurship etc.
• Mental / health professionals, carers, and people with lived experience of mental health.

The Hackathon will take place at the Alexander Bell Centre for Digital Health in Elgin, Scotland from the 22-23rd June. However, we welcome and encourage applications from across the UK and in Northern Ireland and are committed to providing digital access for participants unable to attend the event in person.

How to apply

To apply, please reserve a ticket and complete the order form in full. We will ask you for your name, contact details, the name of your organisation (if you’re representing one), and a summary of the idea you wish to submit for application. Please note, you must fill out the order form in full for your application to be accepted.

If you are submitting an application on behalf of a team, please reserve ONE ticket but list the size and names of your team mates in the application text.

Q&A sessions for applicants

The Lens will be hosting three activation sessions throughout May. These will take place via Zoom and are designed to answer any questions you may have about the Hackathon process. If you’d like to find out more before making a formal application, please register for an activation session using the links below.

Applicant Activation Session: 17th May

Applicant Activation Session: 24th May

Applicant Activation Session: 26th May

Discover more about NHS Western Isles:

NHS Western Isles is an NHS board serving the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. It is one of the fourteen regions of NHS Scotland. NHS Western Isles is responsible for providing primary and secondary healthcare to the 26,000 people in the Outer Hebrides.