Avatar Annie, which comprises a software program and a working model of a body to show the physical effects of inadequate nutrition, has won first prize in the Early Intervention category of the Spotlight on Mental Health competition organised by Health Enterprise East (HEE), the regional NHS partner for innovation.
It has been devised by the CAMHS Eating Disorders Team, led by Dr Anne Reeve, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, and including Vicky Moss, Clinical Psychologist and Team Leader, Emily Baker Clinical Psychologist and Sarah Cross Specialist Nurse.
Staff were presented with an engraved trophy and a cheque for £2000 towards the next stage in the development of their innovation.
Avatar Annie can be used to help young people with all kinds of dietary problems – whether it is anorexia or obesity – and once developed could be an important tool in the community to improve people’s understanding of the link between diet and health.
Dr Anne Reeve said: “Avatar Annie will enable young people and their families to see how current nutritional deficits are leading to real changes in their bodies. The use of our anatomical model has changed the dynamics of our psychoeducational sessions, resulting in young people being much more engaged and motivated to make changes to their lives which are important for their health.
“We have already had very good feedback from young people and their families since the introduction of our use of the models. They report that they have a much better understanding of the risks of their eating disorder and that they can use this when tackling the cognitions that arise as part of their condition. By improving motivation the partnership work we undertake with young people and their families is likely to be more successful.
“Winning this award will allow us to travel to meet with Professor Chapman and his colleagues at Keele University who are doing pioneering work in the use of avatars for training clinicians. We hope that we can adapt the work of his team to develop our own program.”
Chris Armstrong, HEE Marketing Coordinator added: “Avatar Annie met all the criteria in the Early Intervention category of our recent Spotlight on Mental Health Competition.
“We were looking for ideas in the area of early identification, engagement and treatment for young people who develop psychosis, eating disorders, drug or alcohol abuse or depression. This innovation, identified by front-line NHS staff, ticked all the boxes in terms of helping to educate young people about the effects of eating disorders and encourage lifestyle changes.”