The funding, from Innovate UK's £20m Mindset programme, is driving the growth of immersive digital mental health solutions in the UK. By supporting projects that develop therapeutic interventions, Mindset is building a robust ecosystem to bring these innovations to market.

Through fostering collaboration between the immersive technology sector and mental health providers, Mindset aims to improve treatment options, offering faster, more cost effective and accessible support for individuals with mental health concerns.

The projects focus on digital mental health therapy through the application of extended reality (XR), from early-stage viability assessment to industry-led research.

Solutions include immersive hypnotherapy for patients with functional neurological disorder, an XR application for adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, a mixed reality environment for a variety of mental health conditions, and various virtual reality (VR) solutions will support young people with depression and those who experience hearing voices, as well as those with autism spectrum disorder.

Innovations to support people in addiction recovery, with post-traumatic stress disorder, and those who self-harm are also among the projects funded through Mindset.

George MacGinnis, director for healthy lives at Innovate UK, said: ‘Bringing together the UK's world class creative and health technology industries to develop immersive digital mental health solutions opens up new opportunities to transform care and improve access to effective treatments for many more patients.'