Keeping clinicians in the loop with digital care for mental health conditions

Researchers at Manchester have developed a digital platform to help patients with severe mental illness through customised care from their clinicians.

Severe mental illnesses such as psychosis and bipolar disorder affect more than 70 million people worldwide. These conditions are often lifelong, difficult to manage, and have far-reaching consequences for patients, families, and healthcare systems.

In the UK alone, caring for people with psychosis accounts for around 30% of the annual mental health budget- an estimated £4 billion. In the United States, the direct cost of care exceeds $62 billion each year, with many patients receiving only intermittent or crisis-led support.

Traditional mental health care relies heavily on face-to-face appointments and hospital-based interventions, which can leave long gaps between periods of support. Many people living with severe mental illness experience relapse before help arrives. This not only disrupts lives, but also places additional strain on already overstretched health services.

Recognising this challenge, a team of Manchester researchers helped establish CareLoop, a digital therapeutic platform designed to provide continuous, personalised care to those living with severe mental illness.

Integrating technology into care

Launched in 2021 as a university spin-out, CareLoop integrates seamlessly with existing clinical pathways. The platform enables clinicians to remotely monitor patients' symptoms in real time, using data-driven insights and algorithmic prediction models to identify early warning signs of relapse.

When a patient's symptoms begin to deteriorate, clinicians can intervene early, often before hospital admission becomes necessary. For patients, the platform provides ongoing support outside the clinic, offering tools to manage their condition and maintain stability in daily life.

CareLoop is built on more than a decade of research and five clinical trials demonstrating its safety and effectiveness in reducing relapses. This rigorous evidence base has led to the platform being recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) through its Early Value Assessment programme for NHS use.

NICE's endorsement recognises not only the clinical value of CareLoop, but also its cost-effectiveness, with studies showing potential savings of between five and 47 times the cost of licensing the product, depending on the severity of the illness.

Collaboration and impact

CareLoop exemplifies the power of collaboration between academic research, digital innovation and healthcare delivery. Supported by significant new investment, the company is now expanding its technology to encompass a wider range of severe mental illnesses, including bipolar disorder.

The funding will also enable the development of new features to enhance usability for both clinicians and patients, while ensuring the platform continues to meet the highest standards of clinical evidence and data security.

Global applications

The need for accessible, cost-effective mental health care is global. Across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, where specialist services are scarce, digital platforms like CareLoop offer a way to bridge gaps in provision and deliver consistent, evidence-based support. With its headquarters opening in Manchester's new Sister innovation district, CareLoop represents a model for how health innovation can be both locally rooted and globally relevant.

By combining cutting-edge technology with world-leading clinical research, CareLoop is transforming how severe mental illness is understood and managed. It demonstrates how digital therapeutics can not only improve outcomes for individuals, but also reduce pressure on health systems worldwide helping to create a future where effective mental health care is accessible to everyone, everywhere.