‘Smartphone therapy’ to be given to kids with depression in the UK

Smartphone therapy should be the first port of call for children experiencing depression, a UK watchdog has said.

Those suffering with mild depression will benefit from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy via smart devices, under new guidance. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in Britain recommends that kids and teenagers aged between five and 18 get access to online therapy and mindfulness courses through the National Health Service (NHS). GPs will be able to advise on digital programmes including interactive games, animations, quizzes and puzzles. They'll contain questions to highlight dysfunctional thinking and tasks to help them tackle negative thoughts, reports the Telegraph. Some programmes will be able to identify children with more severe or potentially suicidal thoughts and recommend more urgent help. NICE has said that this will help children avoid long waiting lists and get the psychological help they need more quickly. "We want to ensure children are offered a range of therapies to suit their needs and individual preferences are placed at the heart of their care," Paul Chrisp, director of the centre for guidelines at NICE, said. “The evidence showed digital CBT and group therapy were most effective at reducing depressive symptoms and we have recommend these as first-line options for children and young people with mild depression.” Digital therapies are already recommended for adults with mild depression.