“It was fantastic for the whole team to be recognised for their hard work over the past two years developing the platform and focusing on delivering the best in class treatment to those individuals who have accessed our services.”
AnonyMind was founded in early 2020 by Iddon, Christopher Metcalf, and Ryan Durkin, aimed at supporting both therapists and patients.
It’s a purpose-built online platform for providing treatment to people requiring support to deal with gambling-related harm – something which affects around 200,000 people in the UK alone.
The platform offers a free, easy-access, confidential place where individuals struggling with gambling addiction can get the support they need in their own home.
It came about after the team noticed how many people needed support but didn’t know how to find what was already there. “After realising that people who need treatment are often unaware of how to access or fund it, we worked with clinicians, individuals with lived experience, along with gambling industry treatment and education experts to build a platform that provides effective advice and treatment that can be accessed easily by those who need it,” said Iddon.
Integrating tech into mental healthcare is vital. “There is a massive desire for instant gratification, on-demand information, and convenience. Digitalisation already supports that in many aspects of our daily lives, with technology allowing people quick, easy access to whatever is needed.
“Healthcare has followed the trend rapidly in recent years, accelerated dramatically by the pandemic,” he added.
“This desire and need for swift, easy, effective solutions are the same when discussing mental health. With the effects of lockdowns, isolation, and lack of ability to interact with loved ones, many people have experienced mental health deterioration, and a technological solution to speed up access to help is crucial.”
To solve this, AnonyMind provides 24/7 access to clinicians, and now treats hundreds of people each month, giving people who previously couldn’t see a solution a place to turn on their own terms.
In January 2022,” added Iddon, “we saw a vast increase in the number of individuals reaching out for help as they struggle to manage their relationship with gambling. That increase follows a 600% jump in online treatment registrations for Q4 2021 compared with Q3.”
AnonyMind also provides a range of self-help resources on its website, to support its range of services in the field of mental healthcare.
The judging panel at the 2021 Prolific North Champions Awards said that the solution addressed a very real problem, removing barriers to people who need vital support, and they took home the trophy for the hotly-contested category as well as enjoying the celebration with peers in the industry.
“Having previously not attended many award ceremonies, we weren’t sure what to expect. The atmosphere was incredible, and it was an ideal opportunity to network and meet other businesses operating in a similar sector,” said Andy Iddon.
If you want the chance to win a Prolific North Champions Award, and win across categories which once again include the Tech for Good Award as well as Most Memorable Campaign, Ad of the Year, Tech Start-up of the Year and Independent Agency of the Year, make a submission ahead of March 17th.
Entries are judged by a panel drawn from across the industry, with winners revealed on the night of the ceremony on May 26th. To find out more about making an entry, click here or email stephenk@prolificnorth.co.uk.
