Creating a neuroscience based app to manage PTSD in children post COVID 19

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Children and young people make up a third of the population of our country and their health and wellbeing is a top priority, but our young people are increasingly exposed to two childhood epidemics -- obesity and mental distress.Living through this current unprecedented global pandemic will undoubtedly have serious impact on these, disproportionally for children in more deprived circumstances.Stressors such as prolonged duration, fears of infection, boredom, inadequate information, lack of in-person contact with friends, lack of personal space at home, and family financial loss can have enduring effects on children and adolescents. As children are vulnerable to environmental risks and their physical health, mental health, and productivity in adult life is deeply rooted in early years, great efforts are required to address these emergency issues effectively and avoid any long-term consequences in children.Neuronimo is a behavioural change company which helps children and young people aged 4-16 create healthy habits around mental and physical health. We use behavioural science in our programmes, teaching children how their brains and bodies respond to fear, anxiety, impulsiveness and what actions they can take to manage responses and reactions. When children understand why their heart is beating faster, or why they can't sleep, or why their mind goes blank or why they lash out, they can implement actions which help manage these emotions.The current pandemic has highlighted a gap between between public health interventions and delivery of those key messages to children. Neuronimo is an evidence-based approach which offers a compelling market opportunity to provide a conduit connecting these, offering an attractive solution to delivering public health interventions via an app. This app will be free for children to access and will provide children with age-appropriate information, live content and challenges to help them best manage their physical and mental health.Local authority public health teams are accountable for health outcomes, but have no easy access to schools for whom health education is not consistently a priority. The Neuronimo approach offers an innovative solution to overcome this, providing an evidence-based programme of work which meets the needs of schools, children and can deliver key public health messages.