A 'game-changer' for childhood anxiety in Lincolnshire

Lumi Nova: Tales of Courage, a digital therapeutic game recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), is now freely available to families living or attending school in Lincolnshire until December 2026, as part of an ongoing trial in the county.

Co-designed with children, parents, clinicians, and mental health experts, Lumi Nova turns proven therapeutic techniques into a personalised, fun and interactive game.

Lumi Nova is said to empower young minds to understand their worries and fears and develop skills to manage them, making mental health support more accessible and engaging.

Lumi Nova has supported over 1,500 children since the launch of the pilot in January 2025, with around nine out of 10 users reporting that their anxiety improved or stabilised, including users with a special educational need or disability (SEND).

Lumi Nova is engaging groups often underrepresented in mental health services – 44 per cent of Lincolnshire users were boys, who are typically less likely than girls to seek or access mental health services, and nearly a third (31%) identified as having SEND, compared to 1 in 5 pupils (20%) with SEND nationally.

One Lincolnshire parent shared: “Lumi Nova helped my daughter overcome school-related anxiety. She gained confidence and improved communication, and I’ve learned how to better support her.”

Coun Natalie Oliver, Executive Member for Children’s Services at Lincolnshire County Council said: “We want to make sure that our young people get the support they need. Lumi Nova is designed to complement other forms of support, such as face-to-face therapy, offering a fun way for young people to better understand what they are going through and manage their worries and fears. It’s great to see that it’s already having a positive impact in Lincolnshire, and I’m confident many more young people will benefit over the coming year.”

Manjul Rathee, founder and CEO of BFB Labs, the social impact organisation behind Lumi Nova, comments: “It’s great to see the impact Lumi Nova is having in Lincolnshire. The high levels of engagement we’ve seen among all children - including groups typically less likely to access mental health services – shows what’s possible when a service is created with children in mind.

“Lumi Nova is inclusive by design: it’s age-appropriate, engaging and non-stigmatising to empower children to access mental health support on their terms. It’s brilliant to see how the service is enabling children in Lincolnshire to build resilience and thrive.”

No referral is needed and it’s available on both Android and iOS.

To find out more about how Lumi Nova could support your family visit: https://www.luminova.app/lincolnshire.