Digital health startup in Liverpool to support young people with mental illnesses

A new digital health startup taking an intervention-led approach to tackling mental illness has launched in Liverpool.

Oh My Mood was founded by Jaime Essed, the former international manager of Dutch digital health platform TelePsy.

From its base at Liverpool Science Park, the company will develop blended care pathways in which digital solutions support face-to-face therapies, working with clinicians, universities and digital health platforms around the world.

Oh My Mood believes it could potentially improve the quality of care, make mental health therapy more efficient and scalable, and ease the strain on care practitioners without adding pressure on the NHS budget.

The firm pointed to research showing that while three in four mental illnesses start in childhood, the majority (75%) of young people with mental health problems are not receiving the necessary treatment.

Oh My Mood UK Ltd founder Jaime is looking to change that.

He said: “An increased awareness of mental health has given rise to the number of people seeking help. Unfortunately, the mental health system struggles to cope and we are seeing longer waiting lists and more people being turned away.

“In mental health, digital solutions should support face-to-face therapies, not replace them. We are on a mission to improve the quality of care for mental health service users without putting decreasing budgets under more strain.”

At TelePsy, Jaime led on the company’s expansion into the German and UK markets. In 2005 he co-founded Dutch mental health clinic Lionarons GGZ, which currently employs 110 staff.

Oh My Mood UK Ltd said it chose the North West as its base for the access it provides to some of the best research universities in the UK. In addition to its HQ at Liverpool Science Park’s Innovation Centre, the firm has an office in Manchester.

Speaking further, Jamie said: “The North West is a great location for building and growing our company nationally and globally. The region will give us access to some of the best research and development teams in the country, while costs are relatively low in comparison with cities in the south of England.

“We have ambitious plans and expect to build a team of 50 employees within the next five years.”

Matt Biagetti, investment manager at Invest Liverpool, an organisation set up to boost business in the City Region, commented: “I’m very excited to see Oh My Mood locate in Liverpool. I know the company has looked thoroughly at locations across the UK, so this is a clear demonstration of the attraction that Liverpool has for companies working in healthcare.

“Liverpool has the perfect environment for collaboration, business growth and international connections. I look forward to working with Jaime and the team at Oh My Mood.”

Liverpool Science Park business developer coordinator George Barclay said: “We welcome Oh My Mood to our science park. Digital health companies benefit from close collaboration and strategic partnerships with academic R&D departments.

“For that reason, we have built a purpose-built environment to make it as easy as possible for organisations to succeed. We look forward to seeing Oh My Mood grow and thrive.”